Low Impact Development: Managing Stormwater Runoff

Earn 1.0 AIA/CES HSW/SD learning units by studying this article and successfully passing the online exam.

By Tom Powers, PE, LEED AP, CFM, CPESC and Lois Vitt Sale, AIA, LEED Faculty

May 25, 2011

Low impact development (LID) refers to a comprehensive land planning and engineering design approach to managing stormwater runoff that emphasizes conservation and the use of on-site natural features to protect water quality. According to the nonprofit Low Impact Development Center, Beltsville, Md., the goal of LID is to “maintain and enhance the pre-development hydrologic regime of urban and developing watersheds while allowing for development or infrastructure rehabilitation.”

After reading this article, you should be able to:

Understand how low impact development (LID) benefits the health, safety, and welfare of building owners, occupants, and the community.
Know what to consider to incorporate LID into sustainable design and construction strategies.
Discuss the “treatment train” and how various “best management practice” options are used to enhance project sustainability.
List the life cycle cost advantages of LID and evaluate their sustainability advantages in specific projects.

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Comments on: "Low Impact Development: Managing Stormwater Runoff"

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Member of Municipal Wateshed

Submitted by Gwen Layton (not verified) on Thu, 2011-07-07 11:40.

Member of Municipal Wateshed Advisory Committee

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Very informative article.

Submitted by John Edsall (not verified) on Fri, 2011-06-10 10:55.

Very informative article. Content can readily be applied to projects that we are involved in at this time.

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Not only the EPA supports

Submitted by Luis Silva (not verified) on Wed, 2011-06-08 07:38.

Not only the EPA supports LID, but it uses its methods to meet the goals of the Clean Water Act. One of the examples of LID, is to remove 80% of it's pollutants from stormwater runoff. The benefits by applying these techniques are: protecting wild life, plants, groundwater quality, reducing the amount of stormwater contaminants and runoff, providing opportunities for environmental education, etc. etc.