Learn about effective stormwater management techniques, such as bioswales, for the USGBC LEED Green Associate certification exam. Discover how to prevent flooding and damage to buildings and surrounding sites.
Table of Contents
Question
A civil engineer would like to incorporate strategies for rainwater management in order to prevent the flooding occurring at the project site. Which design technique should be used to help prevent stormwater damage to the building and surrounding site?
A. Install a bioswale
B. Direct runoff into a stream
C. Pave the site with high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) material
D. Pave the site with impervious material
Answer
A. Install a bioswale
Explanation
Installing a bioswale is a design technique that should be used to help prevent stormwater damage to the building and surrounding site. A bioswale is a vegetated channel that conveys stormwater runoff while filtering pollutants, reducing peak flow rates, increasing infiltration, and providing habitat. A bioswale can help prevent stormwater damage by reducing erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and contamination of waterways.
The other options are not design techniques that should be used to help prevent stormwater damage to the building and surrounding site. Directing runoff into a stream is a design technique that can cause stormwater damage by increasing the volume and velocity of water entering the stream, resulting in erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and contamination of the stream.
Paving the site with high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) material is a design technique that can reduce the heat island effect by reflecting more solar radiation than conventional paving materials, but it does not prevent stormwater damage as it does not reduce runoff or improve water quality. Paving the site with impervious material is a design technique that can cause stormwater damage by preventing infiltration and increasing runoff, resulting in erosion, flooding, sedimentation, and contamination of waterways.
A bioswale is a landscaping feature designed to collect, convey, and infiltrate stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces, such as roofs, sidewalks, and parking lots. Bioswales are typically shallow, vegetated channels that slow down the flow of water, allowing it to soak into the ground and filter out pollutants. By incorporating bioswales into the site design, the civil engineer can effectively manage rainwater, reduce the risk of flooding, and minimize damage to the building and surrounding area.
Here’s why the other options are incorrect:
B. Directing runoff into a stream does not address the issue of stormwater management on-site. In fact, it can contribute to downstream flooding and erosion, as well as pollute the receiving water body.
C. Paving the site with high Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) material is a strategy for reducing the urban heat island effect, not for managing stormwater. While high SRI materials can help keep surfaces cooler, they do not directly address rainwater management or prevent flooding.
D. Paving the site with impervious material, such as concrete or asphalt, will exacerbate the problem of stormwater runoff and increase the risk of flooding. Impervious surfaces prevent water from infiltrating into the ground, leading to higher volumes and faster flows of runoff.
In summary, installing a bioswale is the most effective design technique among the given options for managing rainwater, preventing flooding, and minimizing damage to the building and surrounding site. This strategy aligns with the principles of sustainable site development and stormwater management promoted by the USGBC LEED Green Associate certification program.
USGBC LEED Green Associate certification exam practice question and answer (Q&A) dump with detail explanation and reference available free, helpful to pass the USGBC LEED Green Associate exam and earn USGBC LEED Green Associate certification.