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Fast Facts:

Name: Ukrop's Supermarket  

Type: Bioretention area

Drainage area of project site: Approximately 1 acre

Outflow: To stormwater retention lake   

Efficiency rating: 65-70 percent

Quantity or Time of Concentration: 8-12 hours

Urban retrofit: No

Cost: $15,000, including signage

Maintenance issues: $150/year, mulch replacement

Access to site: Public

Address: 7045 Forest Hill Ave., Richmond, VA 23225

Contact info: Pat Hadden

Details:

Stormwater from a portion of the adjacent parking lot flows through the curb cut/large gravel into the bioretention area, where it is treated by a biologically active system comprised of plants and micro-organisms.  These micro-organisms were introduced because the filter material is comprised of 30 percent compost.  The micro-organisms are designed to affect the quality of the runoff by removing typical parking lot pollutants like oil and gasoline.  The 50 percent sand and 20 percent topsoil provide physical filtration, and slows the stormwater runoff.   The drain to the right provides overflow into the nearby stormwater retention lake.  This store is located near a stream that feeds into the James River.  Geotextile material surrounding the gravel filter and drain filters out fine sediment.

Some of the effects of a bioretention area include:

• Stormwater runoff diverted into bioretention area will be absorbed, filtered, and slowly released into the watershed, reducing the damaging effects of frequent stormwater surges.

• Will filter out sediments, trash, and other debris from the parking lot runoff

• Plants will absorb nitrogen, phosphorus, and other nutrients from stormwater

• Will remove heavy metals from runoff waters

• Bacteria in the compost layer will break down motor oils into harmless substances

• Can result in smaller stormwater retention pond for development

As part of  the stormwater management plan for the Stratford Hills store, Ukrop's installed a bioretention area.  It is designed to filter environmental contaminants from stormwater runoff, including oil from cars and other pollutants from the parking surface.

This diagram shows how stormwater flows on the site.  The rectangle is the approximate drainage area that feeds into the bioretention area.  The water then filters through the bioretention area, and is carried via pipe to the retention pond where sediment is further reduced.  Stormwater from area not draining to bioretention area drains directly into retention pond.  (Photo at time of construction.)

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