Picture this: Heavy rain pummels your latest construction project, a gleaming new shopping complex. But below, a threat rumbles unseen. Rushing water tears through the site, gnawing at your fresh foundation. The stormwater also unleashes muddy cascades on nearby properties.
Your dream project has turned into a soggy nightmare.
This is the harsh reality of neglecting stormwater management in commercial build projects, but it doesn’t have to be this way. This guide explores integrating stormwater management systems into commercial construction projects. We’ll show why these systems are essential.
Prevent Flood Damage
In 2023, weather and climate disasters across the U.S. caused over $92.9 billion worth of damages. Flooding events significantly contributed to these losses.
You don’t want heavy rain flooding your site or finished premises. Floods can cause expensive delays, ruin materials, and lead to serious building damage.
A well-designed stormwater management system efficiently manages heavy rain. It moves water away from critical areas to keep your site and nearby properties dry and safe. The system has various features that soak up and reroute water.
These include:
- Drains
- Detention basins
- Permeable surfaces
Incorporating stormwater management strategies into your projects does more than just construct buildings. It creates resilient structures that can withstand harsh weather conditions. This protects your investment. It also sends the message your business prioritizes safety and reliability.
In many areas, stormwater runoff goes into the same sewer systems used for wastewater. During heavy rains, unmanaged stormwater can overflow these drainage systems, leading to erosion. This can damage public roads, sidewalks, and other infrastructure around your business.
A stormwater system helps control the flow and volume of water on your property. This reduces the strain on public drainage systems. This is essential for keeping nearby streets and public areas free from flood damage.
An experienced design-build contractor can help you determine effective ways to prevent flooding on your commercial property.
Ensure Access and Operational Continuity
Heavy rains can prevent access to your business premises, even after construction is complete. They can cause flooding on your driveway and parking lot. This may prevent employees and customers from accessing the property.
Customers are more likely to visit your business if they know they can access it, even during heavy rainfall. Easy access shows you value your customers’ and employees’ safety. It increases their confidence in your business and can improve satisfaction and loyalty.
A good stormwater system helps you stop floods and keep your site accessible. This ensures smooth business operations and prevents costly disruptions. Hire a local company to guarantee you’ll get essential services when you need them.
Protect Natural Resources
As a business owner, you know protecting the environment ensures the long-term use of natural resources. This is crucial for business continuity. Without a healthy environment, resources become scarce. This affects supply chains and business operations.
Environmental protection also helps mitigate risks associated with climate change and environmental degradation. These can include physical risks to business assets, as well as operational risks.
Implementing a stormwater management system plays a big role in this. When there’s a heavy downpour, runoff water can carry pollutants into local waterways. These pollutants include:
- Motor oil
- Fertilizers
- Pesticides
- Heavy metals
A stormwater system captures and treats this runoff. It stops harmful substances from reaching the environment. It also helps in slowing soil erosion on the site, preserving the landscaping, and preventing land degradation.
This means you’re not just building a business; you’re protecting the planet too. This commitment to the environment can boost your business’s image, as customers and clients often value companies that care about the environment.
In other words, you’re not only making a wise choice for the environment but also enhancing your business’s reputation. It’s a win-win situation.
Ensure Regulatory Compliance
Many areas have strict rules about managing stormwater. Depending on your location, your business needs to follow these to stay on the right side of the law.
If you don’t manage stormwater properly, you could face hefty fines. A good stormwater system helps you avoid these costly penalties and legal issues.
Having a stormwater management system also ensures you’re ready for inspections. Regular inspections often happen on commercial properties. With a stormwater system, you’ll show inspectors you’re serious about compliance.
Compliance with regulations also helps build your brand. Clients and partners will see you as a responsible and trustworthy business.
Conserve Water
Using a stormwater management system is a smart way for your business to harvest water. The system can come with rainwater harvesting to help collect rainwater from roofs, parking lots, and other surfaces. Instead of this water going to waste or causing flooding, you can use it for various non-drinking purposes.
For example, you can water your property’s gardens or lawns with it. This reduces your reliance on municipal water supplies and lowers your water bills.
By managing and slowing down runoff, the system helps the ground absorb more water. This natural absorption can replenish local aquifers, boosting water conservation in your area.
Since the system can filter pollutants from the water, it maintains the water quality. Cleaner water means healthier local water bodies, which is good for the environment.
While there’s an upfront cost to setting up a stormwater management system, the long-term savings in water usage can be significant. This is especially true in water-scarce areas.
Promote Public Health
Unmanaged stormwater can cause flooding. This can lead to the spread of pollutants and foster the growth of harmful bacteria within the local community.
With a stormwater management plan, you can ease the burden on local sewer systems and treatment facilities. This helps ensure the efficient operation of these public systems. This reduces the risk of system overflows that can lead to public health concerns.
Additionally, standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes. These tiny insects carry dangerous diseases like Zika and West Nile virus. Proper stormwater management planning ensures water doesn’t stagnate on your property.
When you invest in stormwater management, you achieve more than just regulatory compliance. You’re playing a significant role in safeguarding the health of your community. This is a proactive step towards a healthier environment for everyone. This can improve your relations with the local community.
Increase Aesthetic Appeal
Stormwater management can help enhance the visual appeal of your commercial space. Picture rain gardens, bioswales, or green roofs as part of your property. These elements are not only functional in managing water runoff but also add a touch of natural beauty.
Take rain gardens, for instance. They capture runoff, reducing the amount of water that ends up in storm drains, while beautifying your property. The vibrant colors and natural look can transform a bland space into a visually appealing one.
Bioswales, with their gentle slopes and vegetation, are another aesthetic feature. They guide water to specific areas and look like natural parts of the landscape. They add greenery and enhance the overall appearance of your commercial space.
Green roofs too can be a visual treat. They provide an urban oasis visible from higher floors of your building or neighboring structures. This creates a positive impression not just for visitors to your property, but also for those in the surrounding area.
Create a Green Brand Image
By adopting stormwater management, you become a leader in your industry. You’re not just keeping up with trends – you’re setting them with your sustainable actions. This leadership makes your brand stand out. This helps turn it into the preferred choice for those who value environmental responsibility.
Use your marketing to talk about your green initiatives. Show off your commitment to sustainability. This will reinforce your public image as a business that cares about the environment.
Protect Your Investment
The cost to build commercial structures can run into several millions of dollars. Given the high initial investment, you expect a good return on investment. One way to accomplish this is to ensure the longevity of your structures with stormwater management.
A good stormwater system keeps excess water away from your building’s foundation and structure. This prevents water damage, which can weaken your property over time.
When your commercial buildings and grounds stay in tip-top shape for longer, you spend less on building maintenance and repairs. This can lead to significant time and cost savings over the long run.
A well-maintained property without water issues not only lasts longer but also functions better. This helps maintain the value of your investment over time. It also increases the attractiveness of your commercial property if you decide to sell it at some point in the future.
Design-Build Your Stormwater Management System With Hammers Construction
Embracing stormwater management isn’t just a responsible choice. It’s a strategic move that can deliver many benefits.
Ready to make stormwater management system part of your design-build construction project? Look no further than the experts at Hammers Construction. With over 30 years of experience in the industry, we can provide stormwater management solutions to match your business needs.
Don’t miss the opportunity to make your project stand out for all the right reasons. Get in touch with us today for a free consultation or cost estimate. We serve Colorado Springs, Denver, and surrounding areas.