PROVIDENCE – For the first time in 17 years, Rhode Island has a new official manual for controlling stormwater runoff.
The 487-page manual officially became effective Jan. 1, more than two years behind schedule. The document outlines best practices and requirements for contractors, engineers and others constructing virtually anything that falls under the purview of the R.I. Department of Environmental Management or the R.I. Coastal Resources Management Council.
The state contracted with the Horsley Witten Group, a Cape Cod firm, to lead work on the revision of the manual. The agencies and consultant started work under a 2007 law that required the DEM and CRMC amend the manual by July 1, 2008. But the process took longer than expected, said DEM spokeswoman Gail Mastrati.
The state released the first draft in early 2009 and then solicited extensive feedback.
“Bottom line was that the stakeholder process was involved and lengthy and required additional time to meet with different groups and consider their comments,” Mastrati said in an e-mail.
The new manual stresses the use of low-impact development techniques as the primary method of stormwater management.
“For the first time, the manual mandates the use of LID strategies for stormwater management in site planning and design for development projects in Rhode Island, and provides enhanced stormwater practice design criteria,” said Rich Claytor, a principal engineer at Horsley Witten Group and for the project. “The new criteria limits acceptable water quality stormwater practices to only those with a proven track record of successfully removing high levels of sediment, phosphorus, nitrogen and bacteria.”
The manual is available online.
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