"Wisdom begins in wonder" – Socrates
Category: Engineering
Sump Pits
07/11/25
“How can we dig a pit to collect water for later discharge?”
Too much water on a building’s floor can lead to a multitude of problems, ranging from mold to physical collapse. So what can we do to solve this? Well, what if we were to create a pit in the ground to hold the water and then discharge it later? This technique, known as Sump Pits, is an affordable way to manage stormwater in the built environment.
Image credit: https://drycretewp.com/wp-content/uploads/sump-pit.jpg
Sump Pumps
07/10/25
“How can we pump out water from basements and construction sites?”
Water can accumulate in basements and construction sites and lead to long-term structural damage. One way to solve this is to install a pump in a sump pit and pump the water out. These devices, commonly referred to as Sump Pumps, are a choice for people to control water in the built environment.
Image credit: https://www.freshwatersystems.com/
Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Best Management Practices
07/08/25
“What are the best management practices for stormwater pollution from construction activity?”
Construction projects can release pollution into water bodies through stormwater. So what can we do to prevent this? Well, over time, engineers, planners, and architects have developed Construction Stormwater Pollution Prevention Best Management Practices, or BMPs to deal with these problems. Common BMPs focus on reducing soil erosion, reducing sediment loss, and managing materials and waste. Examples BMPs include silt fences, sediment basins, and bare ground stabilization.
NYC Unified Stormwater Rule
07/05/25
“How can NYC unify its stormwater regulations to cover both its combined and separated sewers under one regulation?”
Historically, NYC regulated stormwater in its combined sewer overflows differently than its municipal separate stormwater sanitary systems. But on February 15, 2022, NYC unveiled its NYC Unified Stormwater Rule. This regulation brought RCNY Title 15 Chapter 19.1 enforcement to the entire city and reduced the minimum qualification to 20,000 square feet. This shifted NYC’s stormwater pollution focus from off-site treatment to on-site treatment, putting NYC on a path to a more just and sustainable future. The NYC unified stormwater rule can increase equity in environmental justice communities due to their sizable presence in older combined sewer overflow neighborhoods.
Construction General Permit
07/04/25
“How do U.S. states regulate stormwater pollution runoff from construction activity?”
Construction activities create pollution that stormwater can pick up and dump into surface waters. U.S. States use stormwater permits to keep their water bodies clean. Construction activities that meet certain criteria must obtain a Construction General Permit from the state environmental regulatory agency before starting work. Construction general permits are part of the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).
Silt Fences
07/03/25
“How can we put up barriers to temporarily protect water bodies from construction stormwater sediment runoff?”
Construction stormwater runoff can devastate nearby water bodies. Construction operators must take best management practices to protect water bodies as part of stormwater pollution prevention plans. One approach is to build temporary Silt Fences around the perimeter of construction projects to stop sediment runoff from leaving the development area. Silt fences have a special fabric that allows water to pass through while trapping pollutants. Operators should install silt fences in trenches to keep them stabilized.
Image credit https://globalsynthetics.com.au/
Grading (Construction)
07/01/25
“How can we shape a landscape’s slope to suit our construction needs?”
People may want certain landscape slopes for their construction projects. For example, a developer may want to flatten out a piece of land to make the foundation more stable, or a stormwater engineer might recommend that a community build a meandering path to allow for better drainage. People can accomplish these tasks through Grading, where the land surface is reshaped to accomplish specific criteria.
Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids
06/29/25
“How can we represent the total mass of suspended solids in the aeration tank of an activated sludge process?”
Activated sludge treatment plants are one of the most widely used treatment systems in the world. These systems use suspended microorganisms in sludge to “eat” the organic matter present in the influent water. The total mass of suspended solids per volume in the influent-sludge mixture is quantified as Mixed Liquor Suspended Solids. Measuring the amount of mixed liquor suspended solids is useful for designing targets for treatment systems.
Image credit: https://www.ebsbiowizard.com/
Fecal Sludge
06/27/25
“What exactly is fecal sludge?”
People all over the world use non-sewer systems to dispose of fecal matter. This fecal matter will collect over time with other waste material and accumulate into Fecal Sludge. Fecal sludge needs proper maintenance to prevent public health issues.
