What is Green Infrastructure?

And do we need it?

Green Infrastructure

Green infrastructure is natural systems of handling storm water, and according to the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act, it is "the range of measures that use plant or soil systems, permeable pavement or other permeable surfaces or substrates, stormwater harvest and reuse, or landscaping to store, infiltrate, or evapotranspirate stormwater and reduce flows to sewer systems or to surface waters."

Green Infrastructure Example

This is a bioswale, it a lower depressed area for storm water runoff. According to the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) it is a water runoff conveyance system that provides an alternative to storm sewers. They improve water quality by filtering (naturally) the first flush of storm water runoff.

This is one of many regenerative and environmentally conscious methods of green infrastructure we could be implementing to beautify our township and save the planet at the same time.

Why don't we have these in our area?

Why we don't have these in our township? It comes down to education and advocacy. If our developers and contractors don't know how to create more environmentally friendly options, they will revert to "what they've always done." And if we, as a township, don't require higher standards of design and sustainability for our development (commercial and residential) we won't get it.

Maya Angelou says, "Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better."