The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) board of commissioners approved authorization to advertise a contract to replace the parking lot at Egan Water Reclamation Plant in Schaumburg, Ill., with green infrastructure.
The 44-year-old parking lot, in poor condition due to increased level of maintenance costs, will be replaced with new permeable pavement that will provide several green benefits, including improved water quality, ground water recharge and delayed discharge of storm water to the receiving waterway. The new design also will contribute to compliance with the green infrastructure program requirements of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permits Consent Decree.
"As an agency that cares about the environment, it's important that we are not just talking about protecting our resources and managing storm water, but also walking the walk," said MWRD President Mariyana Spyropoulos. "This parking lot replacement represents a new direction we are heading in for all of our parking lots and facilities that are in need of repair. We aspire to continue to set new standards in terms of green infrastructure and become a model agency."
The project will consist of a permeable pavement parking lot, concrete driveways and walkways, installation of a bio-retention basin, trees and landscaping, installation of an underdrain system, sewers and drainage structures and installation of direct-bury conduits and parking lot lighting.
As a result of the project, an estimated 13 jobs will be created or sustained with an estimated 5,065 man-hours of skilled trades utilized. Work is scheduled to be advertised this summer and completed by the end of 2016.
Source: MWRD
