Storm Water Runoff is Everyone’s Responsibility
The James Lewis Apartments on Lee St. are an example to the industry
The city of Charleston is well known for flooding during episodes of heavy downpour. As a result, all new commercial buildings are required to abate their runoff in some way. Many use underground tanks that store excess stormwater and gradually release it into the cities drainage system at a speed that it can handle. This helps with flooding but does not mitigate the environmental impact of so much impervious surface.
The James Lewis Apartments use a combination of pervious paving and an engineered wetland to address their runoff. The wetland provides habitat for wildlife, and positive psychological effects for the residents. Increasing permeability allows for biofiltration of runoff, replenishes the water table and helps combat saltwater infiltration of the groundwater. This is an example of meeting our unique challenges in a way that benefits all residents of the peninsula, not just the two-legged ones.
