The Stormwater World Podcast

Stormwater World Episode 026: Deep Infiltration Systems with Alex Bennett, Technical Marketing Engineer at Torrent Resources
 
Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? Digital Stormwater B2B Visibility & Digital Marketing, making a difference in stormwater 1 click at a time! They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com because the best-known beats best every time.
Key Points Discussed
[00:00:00] Introduction
Host Ty Garmon welcomes Alex Bennett from Torrent Resources.
Overview of the topic: deep infiltration systems and dry wells.
[00:01:00] About Alex Bennett
Alex's background in stormwater compliance and water quality.
Educational background: Master's degree in Environmental Science from UC Santa Barbara.
[00:02:00] Basics of Deep Infiltration
Alex explains deep infiltration and its benefits.
"A lot of folks, even in places where dry wells are used commonly, aren't familiar with them."
[00:03:00] Infiltration Systems Overview
Comparison between surface level and deep infiltration systems.
Importance of treating stormwater to match pre-development drainage patterns.
[00:04:00] Designing Dry Wells
Alex describes the design and sizing of dry wells.
"We're basically taking the same zone of infiltration you would see with a surface level basin, and locating it vertically within the soil column."
[00:06:00] Soil Considerations
Role of geotechnical reports in designing dry wells.
"The geotech is your friend."
[00:08:00] Infiltration Depth
Factors influencing the depth of dry wells.
Minimum and maximum depths based on soil and groundwater conditions.
[00:12:00] Installation and Performance
Typical dry well installation process and dimensions.
"We see really favorable infiltration rates due to the combination of hitting varying soil layers and having a significant column of water."
[00:15:00] Site Constraints and Benefits
Advantages of dry wells in constrained spaces.
"Dry wells can fit into a site and a stormwater treatment train really easily."
[00:17:00] Maintenance
Maintenance requirements for dry wells.
"Maintenance is just done via standard VAC truck... it's really easy."
[00:22:00] Cost Effectiveness
Cost comparison of dry wells versus other BMPs.
"If we have good infiltration rates, dry wells are more cost-effective."
[00:25:00] Regulatory Considerations
Regulatory challenges and successes in approving dry wells.
"The next step is statewide guidance on how to size these dry wells."
[00:28:00] Combining BMPs
Integration of dry wells with other BMPs.
"A very common layout is pretreatment BMP leading into a big detention tank, leading into one to three dry wells."
[00:32:00] Design Tools
Torrent Resources’ design tool for dry wells.
"We have a great online tool to get a quick unit count."
[00:36:00] Final Thoughts
Importance of working with geotechnical engineers.
"There's no one size fits all approach for infiltration or stormwater treatment."
Quotes
Ty Garmon: "It's interesting, you can go vertical instead of horizontal. That's really interesting."
Alex Bennett: "Infiltration of stormwater, once you're getting it into the soil system, there is a significant amount of absorption, adsorption, natural treatment of the standard suite of stormwater pollutants."
In this episode of the Stormwater World Podcast, host Ty Garmon discusses deep infiltration systems with Alex Bennett from Torrent Resources. They explore the design and benefits of dry wells, which are vertical stormwater infiltration systems that maximize space efficiency and improve stormwater management. Alex highlights the importance of soil conditions and geotechnical reports in designing effective systems, and explains how dry wells can be integrated with other Best Management Practices (BMPs). The conversation also covers maintenance requirements, cost considerations, and regulatory challenges, providing a comprehensive overview of deep infiltration as a stormwater solution.
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.
Connect with Alex Bennett:
Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexbennett2/
Email: alex.bennett@oldcastle.com
Website: https://torrentresources.com/
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? Digital Stormwater B2B Visibility & Digital Marketing, making a difference in stormwater 1 click at a time! They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com because the best-known beats best every time.
Key Points Discussed
Innovation and Its True MeaningTy Garmon (03:15): "Innovation is one of those keywords that you get into management and you just like to throw around... There's a certain kind of person that like looks at something and says, it needs to be better."
Dr. Aaron Fisher (05:41): "Management likes to give permission to innovate, but it's not always as simple as just saying, here's your permission slip to innovate."
Challenges of Innovation in CorporationsTy Garmon (07:50): "So it's the fear of getting yelled at. And certainly in regulations, stormwater regulations and stormwater and like just engineering in general, it's I've done this before. It worked."
Dr. Aaron Fisher (10:13): "We don't have a lot of middle management...a lot of people are aligned with the bottom line."
Fiberglass Rebar as an Innovative ProductDr. Aaron Fisher (19:13): "What we've done with concrete is we've added a second material into a mega composite... But one of the big struggles with concrete is the corrosion that occurs."
Ty Garmon (21:33): "If you're going to build a stormwater structure and you're not considering this, you're overlooking it."
PaveDrain SystemDr. Aaron Fisher (28:36): "It's a heavy-duty, low maintenance, permeable pavement...it's a second generation system."
Ty Garmon (35:55): "Innovation in the stormwater world does not mean new and untested."
Cultural and Organizational InertiaDr. Aaron Fisher (44:59): "If you recognize people for innovating, regardless of whether the innovation was a success, that's rewarding, that's recognition for trying things."
Future of Stormwater ManagementTy Garmon (54:20): "You need to challenge yourself without necessarily breaking the bank because yes, can we build a sea wall that can resist 10 feet of sea level rise? Yeah, we just built an 11 foot sea wall."
Quotes
Ty Garmon: "Innovation is not the greatest thing since sliced bread, but it can help a lot of things. It can help you avoid a lot of things."
Dr. Aaron Fisher: "We're trying to sell a product category that we've never sold before and we're innovating and we didn't have a plan for this."
In this episode of the Stormwater World Podcast, host Ty Garmon talks with Dr. Aaron Fisher, Vice President of Business Development at Ernest Maier, about innovation in the stormwater industry. They explore the true meaning of innovation, the challenges faced within corporate structures, and the importance of fostering a culture that encourages innovative thinking. Dr. Fisher highlights two key products, fiberglass rebar and the PaveDrain system, discussing their benefits and the hurdles in promoting new technologies. The conversation underscores the need for practical, tested solutions to address evolving stormwater management challenges and emphasizes that innovation doesn't always mean unproven but rather improved and reliable methods.
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.Connect with Aaron Fisher, PhD, PMP:
Connect with Aaron on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-fisher-phd-31020811/
Email: afisher@emcoblock.com
Website: www.ernestmaier.com
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Stormwater World Episode 024: Andy Erickson, PhD, P.E. is the Research Manager at St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Chair - ASTM Committee E64 on Stormwater Control Measures; Chair - University of Minnesota Water Council.
 
Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? Digital Stormwater B2B Visibility & Digital Marketing, making a difference in stormwater 1 click at a time! They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com because the best-known beats best every time.
 
00:00-01:01 -  Introduction
Host Ty Garmon introduces the topic of extreme weather events and their impact on stormwater infrastructure, highlighting the frequent occurrences and aging infrastructure across the country.
01:01-03:22 - Guest Introduction
Introduction of Dr. Andy Erickson, his credentials, background in stormwater research, and his contributions to stormwater management literature and community education.
03:22-05:35 - Discussion on Extreme Weather Events and Infrastructure
Dr. Erickson discusses the increase in extreme weather events and the challenges it presents to existing stormwater infrastructure. 
Quotes:"Extreme weather events are a big challenge and everybody sees it. It's in the news. It doesn't matter where you live." - Dr. Andy Erickson
"Our infrastructure is aging and wearing out and we have to replace it, it's undersized for what we see today." - Dr. Andy Erickson
05:35-07:49 - Technological Advancements in Stormwater Management
Discussion on advancements in stormwater management technology and smart systems. 
Quotes:"Smart systems...can do this through algorithms and through automated ways... It all is actuated remotely in the cloud." - Ty Garmon
07:49-09:45 - Statistical Insights and Future Projections
Dr. Erickson shares statistical insights on the increasing frequency and intensity of rain events and the need for updated infrastructure designs to accommodate these changes.
09:45-12:12 - Adaptation Strategies for Existing Infrastructure
Strategies for adapting existing stormwater infrastructure to cope with increased rainfall and extreme events, including the use of smart systems for better management.
12:12-14:33 - In-depth Technical Discussion
Detailed discussion on specific technologies and methods for enhancing stormwater management, including smart ponds and green infrastructure.
14:33-16:55 - Conclusion and Final Thoughts
Ty Garmon wraps up the discussion, highlighting the key points discussed and the importance of adapting stormwater management practices to meet future challenges. 
Quote:"We're basically saving the world from extreme weather today." - Ty Garmon
This episode explores the increasing challenges posed by extreme weather events on aging and undersized stormwater infrastructure. Dr. Erickson, an expert in stormwater research from the University of Minnesota, explores the impact of frequent extreme precipitation events and the technological advancements in stormwater management, such as smart systems and green infrastructure. Throughout the episode, he shares insights on the necessity for updated design standards and adaptive strategies to better manage stormwater in the face of changing climate patterns, emphasizing the integration of new technologies and the reevaluation of existing systems to enhance resilience and efficiency.
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.Links Andy mentioned during the Pod:
"Climate Change Adaptation ofUrban Stormwater Infrastructure." MnDOT Report no. MN 2023-21. https://www.cts.umn.edu/research/project/climate-change-adaptation-of-urban-stormwater-infrastructure
https://researchprojects.dot.state.mn.us/projectpages/pages/projectDetails.jsf?id=23871&type=CONTRACT
https://mdl.mndot.gov/items/202321
Links to signup for newsletters: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/y4awdPX  or http://z.umn.edu/MNStormwaterSeminarSignup
 
Connect with Andy Erickson, PhD, P.E.:
Connect with Andy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-j-erickson-ab64a413/
Email: eric0706@umn.edu
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? Digital Stormwater B2B Visibility & Digital Marketing, making a difference in stormwater 1 click at a time! They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com because the best-known beats best every time.
 
00:00 - Introduction
Host Ty Garmon introduces the topic of artificial intelligence (AI) and its relevance both within and beyond the field of stormwater. Ty discusses the pervasive impact of AI and introduces the guest, Kristen Kautz.
05:15 - Kristen Kautz on AI's Integration and Impact
Quote: "AI has been around since the 1950s... People have already been interacting with it and using the technology, even if they didn't know they were using the technology." - Kristen Kautz
3:05 - Discussion on AI Development and Generative AI
Quote: "When they launched this platform called ChatGPT... it just fit into the way that I already look at tech. We're techno-optimists." - Kristen Kautz
5:00 - AI in the Workplace and Misconceptions
Quote: "It's not just a search engine, but people who get it, and we're starting to get that kind of those networks around us." - Kristen Kautz
8:53 - Future of AI and Ethical Considerations
Quote: "We may be getting all over the place here, but people ask me too, like when they generate something from chat GPT or any AI model, what are the chances that you and I will get the same answer? It's almost infinitesimally non-existent that will happen because of the way how AI dissolves and rebuilds." - Kristen Kautz
11:57 - AI and Job Automation
Kristen elaborates on how AI can aid in reducing workload and freeing up human resources for more critical tasks.
12:27 - Practical Applications of AI
Kristen talks about the multimodal capabilities of AI platforms and how they can handle tasks like reading images and automating responses.
50:25 - Closing Remarks
Ty and Kristen conclude the discussion by emphasizing the significance of embracing AI technology to enhance operational efficiency and innovation in various sectors.
53:11 - End of Podcast
This episode explores the nuances of AI and its transformative impact on industries, emphasizing its longstanding presence and evolving capabilities. The quotes chosen illustrate Kristen Kautz's insights on the integration and potential of AI in modern practices.
 
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.
Links Kristin mentioned during the Pod:
ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/
Claude AI: https://claude.ai/
Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/
 
Connect with Kristin Kautz, CPSM:
Connect with Kristin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristinkautz/
Jam Idea Agency: https://www.jamideaagency.com/#/
KLK@JAMIdeaAgency.com
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
 
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? Digital Stormwater B2B Visibility & Digital Marketing, making a difference in stormwater 1 click at a time! They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com because best known beats best every time.
 
Special EditionEpisode: “Who doesn’t love a good origin story?” In this episode, host, Ty Garmon and Maryella Begley-Garmon, P.E. discuss how their company, Digital Stormwater, and the Stormwater World Podcast got started.  
“What I've always loved about being an engineer, is the things that I did actually made a difference in making people's lives better.” Maryella is a civil engineer with over 25 years of experience in stormwater and drainage. When she was a “baby engineer” just out of college, she had a project that had a profound impact on her personally and how she looked at the work she was doing. “I just remember…realizing what I was doing was actually making an impact in individual lives. And that was so powerful for me as a young engineer. I was like this is what I want to do. I want to make a difference to people.” That is where her passion comes from and why the work she does with Digital Stormwater is important to here: bringing awareness in the stormwater industry to products that need greater visibility so they can make the impact they are supposed to make. “It doesn't matter how great your product is, if nobody knows it's there, it's not going to have the impact that it could have, it's not going to do its job to make stormwater cleaner to make people's lives better, if nobody knows that it exists.”
 
“It's important to keep in mind, just the whys about everything, you know why you do a lot of things,” Ty explains. “ I tell that to people all the time, you can't be in this industry for 12 years and not get it on. 12 years ago, I really didn't know a whole lot about stormwater. I didn't really understand the impacts. Now I definitely care about water in general and then specifically, what's going on in stormwater, way more than I did 12 years ago, when I ventured into this industry.” Ty went down the digital rabbit hole looking for ways to market the product he was selling at the time. He felt like digital was the way to go. Conferences are great, but there are so many people who can’t go to them and then never hear about the products that are exhibited at them. He was talking with his friend Doug Buch from PaveDrain about his ideas for social media “And Doug said, ‘yeah, man, whatever you're talking about, I need to do that. Whenever you do, let me know.’” So that is how Digital Stormwater began in 2019. What began as a 1 man effort on nights and weekends is now a full blown digital marketing agency. Ty explains, “So we take on all things. So what was an idea that was built around social media and exposure has come full blown business to business visibility for everyone in the stormwater industry. And it doesn't matter what you need, if it's digital, we can provide it for you.” 
 
Quotes:
“ What we're trying to do is we're impacting stormwater one click at a time” (00:05 | Ty)
“ What I've always loved about being an engineer, is the things that I did actually made a difference in making people's lives better.” (2:27 | Maryella) 
“I think it's important to keep in mind, just the whys about everything, you know why you do things.” (5:36 | Ty)
“It doesn't matter how great your product is, if nobody knows it's there. It's not going to have the impact that it could have, it's not going to do its job to make stormwater cleaner to make people's lives better, if nobody knows that exists.” (06:57 | Maryella) 
“We all need to put our heads together and get that information out to the general public because they still don't have a clue.” (12:16 | Ty)
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.Connect with Maryella Begley-Garmon, P.E.:
Email: maryella@digitalstormwater.com
LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryella-begley-garmon-p-e-16772157/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/digitalstormwater/
Website: https://digitalstormwater.com/
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? Digital Stormwater B2B Visibility & Digital Marketing, making a difference in stormwater 1 click at a time! They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com because best known beats best every time.
Episode 022: “People think about a tree person or an arborist they think, ‘Well, yeah, he's a tree hugger.’ Yeah, okay, fine. I am. But it's just because they make me feel good. The benefits of trees have actually been qualified and quantified.” John Palmer is an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist. In this episode, John and host, Ty Garmon, discuss how trees impact stormwater in urban environments and how to keep those trees healthy. 
“When it comes to the practical, and when you're talking stormwater, trees, remove pollutants from water. They actually increase infiltration into soils… Trees can pull an amazing amount of water out of saturated soils. There are some estimates that a large tree can pull 100, maybe more, gallons of water a day out of saturated soils. So trees are actually a stormwater control measure. They are a stormwater utility,” John explains. There are different aspects of what the trees do in our stormwater environment that also include erosion control and streambank stabilization. “Tree roots grow differently than the way most people think. Mature trees do not have deep roots, and most tree roots are in the top 18 inches of soil. Just imagine a wine glass on a dinner plate. You have canopy, trunk, and roots. Roots do not just stop at the edge of the drip line or the canopy, they can actually extend two to three times the diameter, and they don't grow deep,” John explains. This is how trees help with erosion control. A single tree has a large root structure that helps hold soils in place.
As we continue to build, it is important to educate both designers and constructors how to properly protect existing trees and how to choose the correct new trees to be planted, and how to plant them correctly. There are 10 volumes of ANSI standards on how to do this. “It's more important to save a large tree than it is to plant new trees…because you're already getting large benefits. You plant a small tree, you get small benefits. When you plant a new tree, it's not a tree, in my mind, it's a shrub on a stick. And that's the benefits that we're getting from it,” John explains. Putting a root protection zone 20 feet from the trunk of a tree with an 80 foot canopy doesn’t work because the roots extend out 2 to 3 times the diameter of the canopy. Driving construction equipment over the roots compacts the soil around them, damaging the roots and the tree.
Quotes:
“I call it the pinball effect. When a raindrop hits the top of the tree, it bounces, it splits, it runs off, and it's like a pinball, the old pinball games” (15:48 | John)
“ It's more important to save a large tree than it is to plant new trees.” (24:50 | John)
“I think that tree protection zone with the orange snow fence, that's a that's a false sense of security that allows somebody to check a box, but it's not really protecting the tree at all..” (24:50 | John)
“The more we understand the less damage that we can do.” (34:21 | John)
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.Links John mentioned during the Pod:
ANSI A300 Standards for tree care: https://tcimag.tcia.org/tree-care/standards-regulations/introducing-the-newly-designed-ansi-a300-tree-care-standards/
ISA: http://www.treesargood.org/
Morton Arboretum: https://mortonarb.org/plant-and-protect/benefits-of-trees/#overview
 
Connect with John Palmer:
Email: treephd@protonmail.com
https://www.gotostage.com/channel/9cf935c1e5f24639954d2bf77fb41a9f
https://www.linkedin.com/in/veritymediatreetraininglecturesandconsulting/
https://twitter.com/CrankyArborist
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP:
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? Digital Stormwater B2B Visibility & Digital Marketing, making a difference in stormwater 1 click at a time! They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com because best known beats best every time.
 
Episode 021: “I have inadvertently turned into what some people would call a stormwater nerd, or I call myself a clean water freak because I think it's way cooler to be excited about it.” Joe Moore has had an interesting journey from unintentional polluter to informed advocate actively making decisions to clean up stormwater. The construction industry was hot at the time Joe graduated from college, and he got a job with a large homebuilder. He was working near the Stillwater River in Cincinnati so he was able to do the things he loved like fishing and canoe trips. Joe is an outdoorsman at heart, going back to when he was around 5 and his dad would take him out to the shores of Lake Michigan. “I didn't realize the impact I was having as a polluter to a waterway that I was using. And so I look back on all that now and say what a blessing or what an opportunity that I got to see that,” Joe says of that time. Then Joe started his own construction company and found that he was being required to buy and use products that simply didn’t work. 
 
That was the birth of Siltworm.  It wasn’t that he didn’t want to comply with stormwater regulations, he did. He just wanted to do it in a way that actually made a difference. Joe’s construction company was being forced to spend literally thousands of dollars on products and methods that didn’t work, so he decided to create something that would. Joe started looking at filter sock technology using compost for sediment control. At first, they kept it under the envelope of their construction company as a pet project. As regulations started to change and catch up to address what was and wasn’t working, they realized that their pet company project could be helpful to others in the industry. They didn’t just stop with what they had, they dug in to make it better. They split the construction business from Siltworm and doubled down on it. 
 
It was a process of failing forward. “When we were filling with compost, our sediment retention numbers were in the mid 60s to low 70s.” The data for silt fencing products were sometimes as low as the mid 20s. Problems arose because the composted material was having organic growth, so they started looking at alternatives. There was an opportunity to recycle wooden pallets to use as the filter filling instead of compost. This also increased the sediment capture rate by 10-15 basis points. Looking into the differences between the materials to understand the sediment capture difference, Joe decided to try kiln dried softwoods and the sediment capture numbers went up to 97%! When you look back at why you are doing what you do, this addressed so many things. “Being able to have a clean product, recycled, kiln, dried softwoods gave us an opportunity to keep a lot of material that was going to a landfill out of it. We're really proud of this. In five years, we've kept over 60 million tons of that material from going into landfills.” Joe and Siltworm are continuing to innovate, most recently with the introduction of Bioworm and the regional installation company, Storm Water Pollution Prevention Services. Joe is creating a legacy in an industry he is quite passionate about, where he gets to protect this limited resource we have in our waterways.
 
Quotes:
“I call myself a clean water freak because I think it's way cooler to be excited about it, right?” (01:23 | Joe)
“I made a decision to get in this industry because I was spending a bunch of money on something that wasn't working,” (32:46 | Joe) 
“Stormwater is gross. Stormwater should be taught, treated just like wastewater. As far as I'm concerned, we need to fix the water for everybody.” (52:48 | Ty)
“I've still never met someone who doesn't want clean water.” (48:07 | Joe)
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.
Check out these Conferences Joe mentioned during the Pod:
Ohio Stormwater Conference: https://ohstormwaterconference.com/
Indiana Stormwater Conference: https://www.inafsm.net/2024-annual-conference
Indiana MS4 Annual Meeting: https://www.indianams4.org/2024-annual-meeting
 
Connect with Joe Moore:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joemoore6/
jmoore@siltworm.com
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
 
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Stormwater World 020: Christian Hennessy | Treatment Product Manager with Oldcastle Infrastructure
Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? Digital Stormwater B2B Visibility & Digital Marketing, making a difference in stormwater 1 click at a time! They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com because the best-known beats best every time.
Episode 020: “My passion for stormwater really stems from my love of the outdoors. I'm an avid hiker and outdoorsman, and I desire to be a steward of that environment.” You can definitely hear Christian Hennessy’s passion for stormwater and environmental stewardship in his conversation with host, Ty Garmon, in this episode. Christian gives a little stormwater 101 where he explains the 4 aspects of stormwater design: directing, storing, cleaning, and transporting. Different sites and geographical areas have different complexities for these components. 
“The whole impetus of stormwater is to try to take a built environment and make it act like the pre-developed conditions,” Christian explains. This is more than just the amount of water being released. It encompasses directing water to protect the natural environment and other built infrastructure to get it to the detention facility, infiltration for groundwater recharge, cleaning the contaminates it has picked up along the way, and, in some instances, transporting the water from areas of abundance to areas with significant drought conditions. Christians says “It's all part of the beautiful puzzle of stormwater.”
“The most important needs and challenges for the stormwater industry specifically include storing, cleaning and treating the water,” Christian continues. In urban areas where there is a lack of available land area, you need creative solutions to store the runoff until it can be released. This may be under building foundations or parking lots, so then it becomes important to ensure the structural integrity of the infrastructure above the storage. The water also needs to be conveyed for reuse potentially for irrigation, toilet flushing, or other uses. Before it can be used, however, it needs to be treated. Detention aids is cleaning by allowing sediment to settle out. Then other BMPs are used to help further clean the water. “We're seeing a push for improvement in the contaminants that these devices can remove and the overall efficiency they achieved. Most systems on the market are really good at TSS and hydrocarbons but we're seeing a need and demand for emerging pollutants like nitrogen, PFAS, 6PPD quinone,” Christian explains. “It is hard to get people to change, but I think as awareness increases around what stormwater is, and how it ultimately impacts everybody, whether or not they have the direct line of sight to see it, that's gonna push policy.”
“We're looking to innovate and improve our treatment technologies.” Christian explains 3 ways this is occuring in the stormwater industry and inside Oldcastle. First is the ongoing effort to create national standards for stormwater BMPs, STEPP. This will give users and designers a true way to compare devices before they are purchased and installed. The first standard is for Trash Capture and should be published by June 2024. Next is the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed 4Q2021. This provides funding for a wide array of new and already identified infrastructure projects. And finally, Oldcastle has established an Innovation Fund with $250 million set aside for developing new technologies and are partnering with companies and researchers to develop the next generation of advanced sustainable building products. “Stormwater really is the first line of defense in protecting our environment.”
Quotes:
“My passion for stormwater really stems from my love of the outdoors. I'm an avid hiker and outdoorsman, and I desire to be a steward of that environment.” (01:15 | Christian)
“The whole impetus of stormwater is to try to take a built environment and make it act like the pre-developed conditions,” (4:32 | Christian) 
“We just need to be smarter about how we are managing stormwater and looking at it as a resource, which it is, instead of just getting rid of it (27:30 | Christian)
“Stormwater is very dirty. You know, I don't think people really think about how much pollution is really carried away in stormwater” (27:30 | Christian)
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.
Check out these links Christian mentioned during the Pod:
STEPP initiative: http://nationalstormwateralliance.org/stepp/
Oldcastle Innovation Fund: https://www.crh.com/media/press-releases/2022/crh-establishes-new-venture-capital-unit
Deciphering the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act: https://oldcastleinfrastructure.com/insights/deciphering-the-infrastructure-investment-and-jobs-act-iija/
Connect with Christian Hennessy:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-hennessy-38085952/
christian.hennessy@oldcastle.com
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Episode 019: “So I'm a product geek. I'm a stormwater geek. So I just like it when people are innovating and coming up with new solutions.” Dylan Drudul has worked on both sides of the figurative fence in stormwater. Dylan started his career on the regulatory side working for the City of Rockville, MD doing stormwater quality sampling. “I would go through the expo hall and see all these products, but I come back to my office, and I'm doing my inspections, and I'm not seeing these products in the field,”Dylan says. There were all these innovative products that he was seeing on the market, but they hadn’t made it through the local approval process so they weren’t being utilized. A lot of the older products that have existed for 30-40 years work, but there have been improvements that could push the industry to the next level. 
“Was there anything that really was a tipping point in any of your projects where you can think of that, that made a difference that you'd like to share?” asked host Ty Garmon. “Yeah, absolutely,” answers Dylan. “I mean, I think just the failures of our standard practices. Look at what we're doing, here's the status quo.” Dylan said he always felt like there was animosity between the regulatory community and the product development community. He didn’t understand why they couldn’t work together for the good of the industry. Sales is education. Product developers and their salespeople have to educate the construction and regulatory communities about what is available and the benefits these new products offer over how things have always been done.
Dylan is now on the product side of the stormwater industry. He is the Regional Business Manager of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast area of the country for Profile Products. Profile Products produce different hydromulches, which are a blanket alternative for erosion control of excavated areas. There's this discussion around microplastics and concern around polypropylene and plastic base erosion control technology; we're actually making an issue from solving another one. We are trying to make water better, keeping stuff out of the water, filtering stuff from the water, and those devices actually polluting the water with micro microplastics. Dylan says, “a big initiative I do nowadays, especially working for Profile and having 100% bio based all natural, biodegradable products… is really that push to try to remove that intentional introduction of plastics into our environment.” There are solutions that exist now to get the same level of performance that do not intentionally introduce polypropylene into the natural environment. “I read an article the other day that said, you actually consume about five grams of plastic every week, it's a credit card. I mean, isn't that wild to think that we're eating that much and drinking and breathing that much plastic in on a weekly basis? It's the next thing that we are really going to have to think about,” said Dylan.
Special mention of the IECA, International Erosion Control Association. Dylan and Ty have both served on their local IECA boards, and Dylan has also served on the international board. Find out more at: https://www.ieca.org/
Quotes:
“So I'm a product geek. I'm a stormwater geek. So I just like it when people are innovating and coming up with new solutions.” (25:15 | Dylan)
“There's just a lot of stuff in our industry that's been used for 30-40 years. And I'm not saying it's, it doesn't work, but it's definitely been improved upon and can be improved upon further to just push our industry to the next level.” (2:37 | Dylan) 
“I always felt like there was this, this animosity between the regulatory community and the proprietary development products type community…Why can't we all just work together to better this industry, and to move it forward?” (6:27 | Dylan)
“I read an article the other day that said, you actually consume about five grams of plastic every week, it's a credit card. I mean, isn't that wild to think that we're eating that much and drinking and breathing that much plastic in on a weekly basis? It's the next thing that we are really going to have to think about.” (10:27 | Dylan)
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.
Connect with Dylan Drudul, CPESC, CESSWI, CBLP:
http://linkedin.com/dylandrudul
ddrudul@profileproducts.com
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com

Episode 018: “The best way to get into what it is and what it does is to talk about the origin story.” Lance Hoff, P.E. created The Preserver over 10 years ago to address the specific issues that his home state of Minnesota found with pretreatment devices in high flow situations. MNDOT was regulated as an MS4 and needed to provide reporting on measurable goals. They started by testing all of the existing infrastructure they had in place. They had a study done at St. Anthony Falls Laboratory at the University of Minnesota. What they found was that the existing units did well at removing sediment at low flows, but did not perform the same at high flows. Trying to find a fix to retrofit the existing equipment was extremely costly. This is how The Preserver was developed, it could be retrofitted into existing sump manholes at a lower cost and worked well at higher flows as a hydrodynamic separator.
The high flow events are not the normal events, but did need to be addressed. “The problem is the high flows, everything scours out. How can we take these sump manholes MN DOT has, and make them work better. They were looking for a product that was retrofittable into sump manholes, and could prevent that scour from happening. They [wanted] to have energy dissipators  to prevent the scour and improve removal efficiency at a fraction of the cost, and you don't have to place them offline.” Lance breaks down the exact problems The Preserver was designed to address. Lance says “So The Preserver's a system, it has two components. It has an energy dissipater which goes on the inlet or inlets if you have multiple inlets, and you have a skimmer that goes on the outlet. You're just trapping any floatable pollutants. Functional wise, it's got some benefits in that it's retrofittable and it's adjustable. But function wise, it's just skimming off floatable pollutants, trapping anything that floats trash, oils, greases, hydrocarbons, leaves, and helps with organics. Then the dissipator is a perforated sheet, essentially, that has a curved shape and connects at the inlet. So it's got a bunch of holes in it. Those orifices are what create the energy losses. They also work to control the flow regime and the structure and spread that flow out and makes the sump very quiet.” 
Lance and Ty discussed the difficulties for innovative technologies to be recognized and utilized. Everyone knows what they have always done, so that is their first thought when they have a new project. Just because it is what you have always done, doesn’t mean it is the best solution. “So anybody watching this that wants to promote innovation, that's probably the best way to do it, is keep an eye out for new technologies, especially some of these smaller companies, and help support them and promote those products,” Lance states.  To learn more about The Preserver, visit Momentum’s website: https://thepreserver.com
Quotes:
“If I put my spoon in my glass, and I stir it up, stuff drops to the bottom, perfect. That works. If I blast that same cup with the fire hose doesn't work as well in the big storms.” (10:38 | Ty)
“Let's start doing the math. If we can take half of the sediment before it gets in the pond, and just clean it with a vac truck, it’s way cheaper for us in the long run. We maintain a pond every 60 years, instead, every 30 years, and you run the numbers.” (21:13 | Lance) 
“ The state just finally made a requirement…what they like about it is even different, because they're responsible for the waters of the state, and they are just big picture. If you're pre treating stormwater, everything downstream of it's working better.” (21:13 | Lance)
“ So anybody watching this that wants to promote innovation, that's probably the best way to do it, is keep an eye out for new technologies, especially some of these smaller companies, and help support them and promote those products..” (29:58 | Lance)
The views expressed are that of the individual and do not represent the opinions of any companies past, present or future.Connect with Lance Hoff, P.E.:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lance-hoff-6817a216/
https://thepreserver.com/
 
Connect with Ty Garmon, LEED AP: 
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tygarmon/
Sign up to be a guest: https://forms.gle/whijSz9Tio3iZda57
Check out The Stormwater World Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9hVXVJ5oXplf_V9XOPpR6A
Podcast Website: https://stormwaterworld.com
Stay Informed! Sign-up for the Stormwater World Newsletter: https://stormwaterworld.com/newsletter-sign-up/
Please don't forget to rate, comment, and subscribe to Stormwater World Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!
Did you know that this podcast is produced by Digital Stormwater? They do all things digital. Check them out at DigitalStormwater.com