Bioswale to help reduce storm overflow

With all the projects in PWSA’s pipeline, Mr. Weimar said the goal is to solve three problems: “To comply with the [state Department of Environmental Protection] consent order for overflows, to prevent basement backups and to reduce street flooding.”

He said green infrastructure is a complement to underground collection tanks and “an active reminder to people of how we are trying to minimize the long-term impact” of storm overflows.

“It is also green space that is valuable to neighborhoods like this,” said James Hill, executive assistant to Mayor Bill Peduto. “I wish we could have seen it in action last night.”

Wednesday’s rainfall topped 2 inches in many municipalities in the region and approached 4 inches in others, said Lee Hendricks, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Moon.

Trench-drains along the curb help divert water from the roadway to the bioswale, and underground catchment drains divert water into it as well. It stretches almost from Ewart Street to Herron Avenue.

Where Herron bottoms out at Centre, the Robinson Street extension continues up another hill toward University of Pittsburgh sports facilities.

The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy will take care of maintenance for the first year, and Pitt will take responsibility after that, said John Wilds, Pitt’s assistant vice chancellor for community relations.

The design and construction team included the Wood Group, Environmental Planning and Design, Viglotti Landscapes and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Volunteers gave 200 hours helping to plant 13,000 perennials, 50 trees and 80 shrubs.