Gravel-Lok News April 2010

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Gravel-Lok Design Options

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You and storm water: A major source of pollution

via McClatchy Newspapers; By Terri Bennett


How would you feel if you knew that you and your neighbors are the biggest source of water pollution in the U.S.? Well, it's true.
It's generally not intentional, but each day we all do things that add up to one big problem.

Storm water runoff is just what it sounds like: water from rain or snowmelt that flows over the ground. Impervious surfaces like driveways, streets and parking lots prevent storm water from being absorbed into the ground, contributing to the flow of runoff.

Storm water flows downhill to the nearest storm drain. What most people don't understand is that anything that enters a storm drain flows untreated into a nearby creek, river or lake. These rivers and lakes are the source of drinking water to 85 percent of Americans and a valued resource for swimming, boating or fishing for all of us.

FOR FULL ARTICLE GO HERE: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2011528718_drains.html

Rainwater-absorbing lot designed to curb runoff

The new lot will have a drainage system that will absorb storm water and cut down on the amount of runoff into a nearby lake.
The work is part of a federally funded project aimed at improving water quality in the small Iroquois Lake in the southeast part of the park.
The Olmsted Conservancy received a $1.4 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to cover most of the work at Iroquois and some similar work to help Willow Pond at Cherokee Park. The money was secured by former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup while she was in Congress.
The expanded amphitheater parking lot at Iroquois is expected to be complete by early summer. The Cherokee project will be complete later this spring when the final native plants are added.

Story and photo By Charlie White • cwhite@courier-journal.com via Kentuckiana.com
Go here for full article: http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100324/GREEN/3240335/Rainwater-absorbing+lot+designed+to+curb+runoff

Gravel-Lok Demo Days March & April 2010

Gravel-Lok will be doing a demostration Thursday March 25 at the New Library - 3601 Eastern Ave in Baltimore MD with Custom Stoneworks & Design at 3pm. Call 877-470-9200 for more information.

Wednesday April 21, we will be holding a training session at our office in Crofton MD to learn more about Gravel-Lok and installation procedures. The session starts at 10:30am and lasts for about 2 hours . You are more than welcome to come join us as well as bring a coworker or friend to the event. Space is limited and filling up fast so if you are interested in attending RSVP now by calling 888-851-0051.

Coming Together for Clean Water - Stormwater Pollution

"What, where, and how communities build will affect their residents’ lives including access to clean water. More pavement and non-porous surfaces mean less area where water can soak into the ground, where it recharges our water supplies and nurtures ecosystems. Stormwater that isn’t absorbed runs over these developed areas, picking up contaminants and sediments that eventually flow into rivers and streams."

Excerpt taken from the EPA's water blog/discussion forum. Go here for the full article: http://blog.epa.gov/waterforum/2010/03/topic-3-the-role-of-development/

'Building Your Green Home' panel discussion

A four-bedroom, 4,200-square-foot home to be built later this year in Upper Makefield was designed to rest lightly on the land, starting with high-density cement-panel basement walls set in gravel.

The building will be constructed of structural insulated panels that minimize wood use and chemical off-gassing. It will have super-high-efficiency windows, ground source heat, a storm water cistern for irrigation, an upgraded septic system, native, drought-resistant landscaping instead of a lawn, pervious paving and durable fiber-cement siding that uses recycled wood.

Paving material that lets rainwater percolate into the ground is under consideration, whether in the form of pervious asphalt or manufactured paving stones.

Hartke says his Holicong-based architectural partnership found it difficult to find pervious asphalt to pave its own parking lot about seven years ago, but, he says, "Now, you can find a supplier. Almost all asphalt manufacturers can provide it."

Excerpts from "Show features 'Building Your Green Home' panel discussion" By: GWEN SHRIFT - Bucks County Courier Times. READ FULL ARTICLE at: http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/177/2010/march/16/in-the-air.html