Nearly a year ago, at the corner of Scott and Taylor Avenues, a detention basin was constructed as part of the landscaping associated with the newly constructed 4515 McKinley Research Building. Since then, the St. Louis area has received periods of heavy rain including a couple of record-setting events.
Detention basins are a low-lying area designed to temporarily hold a set amount of water while slowly draining to a creek, channel, or storm sewer system. Considered “green infrastructure,” detention basins provide relief to the storm sewer system during periods of heavy rain, preventing sewer back-ups and flooding. They double as attractive landscaped areas that can feature native plants and provide refuge for wildlife.
To date, the basin at Scott and Taylor Avenues has performed to Metropolitan Sewer District (MSD) standards and has met the expectations of its designed capacity. Because the basin essentially works as a filter and filters need to be cleaned and/or changed periodically, any preventative or corrective action that can be made in a timely manner will help to ensure the continued performance of the system. Continued inspections and annual reporting will allow Washington University School of Medicine and MSD to monitor and evaluate the performance of the basin.
The featured image was taken on August 16, 2016, the day after a 3 inch rainfall event.
For ideas on how you can help keep the region’s waterways clean and do your part to prevent flooding, consider these tips.