Issue link: https://hi.iaq.net/i/248503
www.epa.gov/iaq/moisture • Select trees, shrubs, ground cover and other landscaping elements based on their ability to grow well with little or no additional water. Such plants will minimize the use of water for irrigation. For detailed information including applicability, design criteria, limitations and maintenance requirements on these and many other site drainage methods, visit EPA's storm water management website.15 • Explore the potential for capturing, diverting and storing rainwater for landscape irrigation, drinking and other uses. This approach can be used in all climates. For more information, see the Texas Water Development Board reference The Texas Manual on Rainwater Harvesting. Guidance 6: Landscape irrigation systems must be designed so that they do not spray the building or soak the soil next to the foundation. Consider hiring a qualified irrigation designer or irrigation consultant to design the system, keeping in mind these considerations: Guidance 9: Develop a construction-phase stormwater-management plan. The plan should address at a minimum: • Spray heads and rotor heads spray water into the air. When designing spray systems consider wind conditions. Wind can carry airborne water beyond the area intended to be covered, and the sprinklers may spray the building or the soil around the foundation. • Methods for minimizing the potential for storm water runoff during construction. • Methods to drain storm water from the site and away from the structure during construction. • Methods for preventing building materials from getting wet. • Drip irrigation is a slow, even application of water through plastic tubing that delivers water directly to plants. Drip irrigation systems use less water than spray systems; however, they still can soak the ground around the foundation and cause moisture problems in a building. • Methods for keeping the building or portions of the building dry during construction.16 • Policies and methods for drying materials and the building if they become wet. • All irrigation systems, regardless of type, should be properly controlled and monitored. Timers should be installed to ensure the system shuts off. Water flow meters should be installed to measure the volume of water moving through the system. Regularly monitored meters can be a source of information about excessive water use due to timer problems or system leaks. Consider installing devices such as tensiometers or soil blocks to measure soil moisture. • Construction-phase storm water management supervisory roles and responsibilities. For detailed information on construction-phase storm water management, visit EPA's storm water best management practices website.17 Guidance 10: Develop guides covering the O&M of the storm water management system. The guides should include: • The theory of operation of storm-water-management systems. Guidance 7: Ensure water draining from one building or site does not violate the good drainage of an adjacent building or site. This can happen when a building is constructed close to an existing building and dumps drainage water (e.g., roof, surface, etc.) onto or at the existing building, overwhelming its drainage features. • Inspection procedures. • Maintenance procedures and requirements. For detailed information on post-construction storm water management, visit EPA's storm water best management practices website.18 Guidance 8: Consider green building practices that minimize the need for irrigation or that capture rainwater for use in irrigation. 15 http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm. Accessed November 6, 2013. For some large projects, interior work may begin before the upper floors have been completed. Special rainwater-control measures are needed to protect the lower floors. See Chapter 3 on the construction phase for more details. 16 17 http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm. Accessed November 6, 2013. 18 http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm. Accessed November 6, 2013. 30