May 27, 2015 -- The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) is planning to upgrade a parking lot at its Egan Water Reclamation Plant in Schaumburg with green infrastructure that will not only provide an expanded space for vehicles when completed but offer many benefits for water as well.
The 44-year-old parking lot, in poor condition due to increased level of maintenance costs, will be replaced with new permeable pavement that will provide several green benefits, including improved water quality, groundwater recharge and delayed discharge of stormwater to the receiving waterway. The new design will also contribute toward compliance with the green infrastructure program requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits Consent Decree.
"As an agency that cares about the environment, it's important that we are not just talking about protecting our resources and managing stormwater, but also walking the walk," said MWRD President Mariyana Spyropoulos. "This parking lot replacement represents a new direction we are heading in for all of our parking lots and facilities that are in need of repair. We aspire to continue to set new standards in terms of green infrastructure and become a model agency."
The project will consist of a permeable pavement parking lot, concrete driveways and walkways, installation of a bioretention basin, trees and landscaping, installation of an underdrain system, sewers and drainage structures, and installation of direct-bury conduits and parking lot lighting. As a result of the project, an estimated 13 jobs will be created or sustained with an estimated 5,065 man-hours of skilled trades utilized. Work is scheduled to be advertised this summer and completed by the end of 2016.
See also:
"MWRD installs new green roof at Racine Avenue Pumping Station"
"MWRD to add 4.6B gallons of storage capacity for combined sewage, stormwater"
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