LID opportunities on public land

==Small- and large-scale projects==
The scale of your LID project will largely determine how to proceed. While you can usually complete small-scale LID projects with in-house expertise and resources, large-scale projects require external support from consultants and contractors.
===Small-scale projects===
Starting with small-scale projects is a good strategy to increase public interest in LID practices, gauge municipal support, and gain retrofit experience. Small-scale projects include retrofitting your site with landscape alternatives, rain barrels, enhancements of existing swales, or using pollution prevention strategies and practices.
Small-scale projects require fewer resources and a smaller project budget:
*They do not require integration into capital works projects
*Engineering consultants are not required
*Contractors may not be not required
*External approvals are not required
*Consultation with the public is limited
Due to less financial commitment, it can be easier to build colleague support and to gain supervisor approval for small-scale projects. However, small-scale projects like landscape alternatives and pollution prevention may not be easily identified as LID practices by the public. Your project team should consider establishing educational signage to inform the public.
Pollution prevention (P2) projects are great small-scale projects for municipal facilities, such as schools and public works yards. Many P2 techniques and strategies do not require construction, consultants or contractors. In fact, simply adding signage to a site is a simple and easy to implement pollution prevention at municipal facilities.
A successful small-scale LID retrofit project is a good indication that you are ready to take on a more intensive retrofit project. You now know the resources that are available and understand the internal municipal processes required to move a LID project from planning to finished product.
===Large-scale projects===
Large-scale projects require significantly more effort, budget and staff than small-scale projects. Large-scale LID practices include:
* Bioretention
* Enhanced grass swales
* Bioswales
* Perforated pipe systems
* Permeable pavements
* Soakaways
* Infiltration chambers
* Rainwater harvesting 
* Prefabricated modules
* Green roofs
Consider a large-scale project if your municipality, school or place of worship would like to be a leader in sustainability. Large-scale projects are often highly visible and attract more public attention. Large-scale projects may also be the only solution to site-specific challenges. For example, if the parking lot on your site does not have existing stormwater controls, small-scale projects are not likely to fully achieve compliance with water quality and quantity objectives. Consider using an infiltration chamber or bioswale project to meet those objectives.
Before starting a large-scale retrofit project, consider the following distinctions that set these retrofits apart from small-scale projects.
====Integration with capital works programs====
Most large-scale LID retrofits must function with existing site infrastructure, such as storm sewers, catch basins, and pavement systems. The construction of large-scale LID practices often requires these systems to be removed, exposed, or replaced. The best time for this type of project to occur is when an infrastructure replacement or rehabilitation project is already planned.
When LID retrofits are worked into other construction projects, such as parking lot repaving, or grading or drainage improvements, there can be substantial cost savings. Whether big or small, every municipality, school and place of worship spends relatively large sums of money and substantial time planning for major capital projects. This includes redevelopment of public buildings and spaces. Many communities which have undertaken retrofits recognize that even if a relatively small portion of the project funds goes towards LID retrofits, they can retrofit large impervious surfaces and avoid new stormwater management infrastructure projects.
Municipal facility rehabilitation is typically forecast well in advance of the project. Parking lot paving is typically worked into municipal budgets based on expected life cycle and observed wear. As such, funds may be set aside prior to the project planning phases. Long-term forecast budgets may also be available for site revitalization or expansion. These budget forecasts provide opportunities to compare the capital and life-cycle costs and benefits of conventional construction projects against LID retrofits.
====Regulatory compliance====
The objectives, technologies and standard practices associated with stormwater management are constantly evolving. It is unlikely that the stormwater management practices on your site meet modern industry standards. When you are making changes to your site, it is important to stay ahead of regulation. Your school, park, place of worship or municipal facility may not be required to improve on-site stormwater management infrastructure, but those retrofits can be beneficial and save money and time over the long term. Consider both current and future water regulations which may affect your property. Consulting with your municipality will help you determine if LID retrofits can reduce taxes or prevent costly upgrades required at a later date.
====Involvement of consultants and contractors====
Consultants are required for large-scale retrofit projects, specifically for the final screening of options, pre-design, detailed design, tender and contract documents, construction supervision and administration, and assumption and verification. Site contractors are also required for large-scale LID retrofits.
Ideally, contractors should be pre-qualified based on previous experience with similar LID projects. Remember, the contractor with the lowest bid does not necessarily deliver the best product.
====Intensive public consultation====
Stakeholders must be closely involved in the retrofit process for large-scale LID projects. These projects have longer construction windows, may have significant impacts on long term public use patterns of the site and will have significantly higher costs. Gaining public insight before LID implementation can help address public concerns and information gaps, as well as identify public supporters and champions. Public consultation can help designers tailor the project to address community concerns, values and use-patterns.
====External approvals====
Large-scale retrofits may require a variety of approvals at the municipal, watershed, provincial, and/or federal level. Since LID is still relatively new, you may encounter policies or bylaws that present barriers to LID retrofit projects. Alternatively, the municipality may have to amend or enforce some policies and bylaws to facilitate the implementation of LID projects on your site.
==Parks==
Parks range from simple parcels of municipal property to complex outdoor recreational facilities that include parking, sidewalks, trails, sports fields, field houses, operations facilities and washrooms. Each distinct area of your site can be a source for runoff (referred to as a ‘source area’). Target these areas when introducing LID in your park.
===Targeting hard surfaces===
Hard surfaces like parking lots and internal driveways are the most obvious targets for both stormwater quality and water balance improvements. These features produce more runoff than any other area on your site. Runoff from parking lots and driveways is typically more polluted than other source areas. Common water quality concerns include sand and salt from winter de-icing operations, hydrocarbons (gasoline) and heavy metals from vehicle breakdowns.
Runoff from vegetated areas of parks will be relatively clean and more closely matches the natural water balance. On municipal park properties, hard surfaces are usually
located adjacent to pervious areas such as lawns, gardens or naturalized areas. This makes parks an ideal location for a LID retrofit. Where grading allows, you can construct bioswales and bioretention areas in these green areas to pre-treat water prior to infiltration.
You can also design parking surfaces and internal roadways as infiltration systems using permeable pavement. This retrofit strategy can be combined with other LID practices. Pathways paved with permeable pavements are another LID option for your park. They reduce runoff volumes and encourage on-site infiltration. Exfiltration trenches are a viable option on many parks sites as well, as they provide an alternative to conventional conveyance systems (such as storm sewers). They encourage infiltration from hard surfaces and can be used to convey water to other LID features.
===Accepting drainage from off-site areas=== 
Does municipally owned land drain into your retrofit site? If so, this is an opportunity to provide stormwater controls for these areas.
Roads are the most common source of runoff from external properties into parks. Treating municipal road runoff in a park requires planning input from municipal roads department staff. For these projects, the team must understand how all road activities, including winter maintenance and potential roadwork, will affect the operation of LID practices in the park.
===Inter-municipal transfer of funds===
Integrating LID practices into the municipal stormwater management framework may require a change in how municipal funds are managed. Traditional stormwater management maintenance resources and funds may have to be transferred to a more landscape-based stormwater management maintenance program. Instead of infrequent but expensive stormwater management pond sediment removal operations, time and resources would be spent on more frequent but inexpensive maintenance projects, including pruning and weeding bioretention practices or sweeping permeable pavement.
Municipalities generally have the required staff and infrastructure within departments (e.g. arborists and horticulturalists in parks departments) to manage the maintenance of LID measures. However, funding this maintenance may require a transfer of funding and additional training. 
The federal Gas Tax Fund (GTF) is another funding option for LID retrofits. This federal transfer provides long-term funding for municipalities to build and revitalize public infrastructure. Up to 30% of a municipality's yearly GTF allotment can be used for stormwater management.
===Source Areas=== 
The best LID option for your site will depend what types of source areas are present. Source areas may include:
* Active use areas
* Passive use areas
* Pedestrian walkways
* Internal driveways
* Parking lots
On park sites, pollution prevention is often associated with changes to operations and maintenance practices and has not been included in the table below.
Options and implementation strategies for a few of these source areas will give you some ideas for your park site.
LID opportunities in parks 
(** = Common, * = Possible, o = Unusual)
Source area 	Permeable pavements	Bioretention	Enhanced grass swales	Bioswales	Infiltration trenches and chambers	Exfiltration trenches	Landscape alternatives	Prefabricated modules
Active use area 	** 	o 	* 	* 	** 	* 	o 	o
Passive use area 	o 	** 	** 	** 	** 	** 	** 	**
Pedestrian walkway	** 	** 	** 	** 	** 	* 	* 	o
Internal driveway 	** 	** 	** 	** 	** 	** 	o 	*
Parking lot 	** 	** 	** 	** 	** 	** 	o 	**
Category:Planning
==Municipal facilities==
==Schools==
thumb|right|The Peel District School Board's Adult Education Centre South school partnered with the City of Mississauga to manage runoff from the adjacent street, Elm Drive, on their property. This partnership benefits the City by giving it space to provide an enhanced level of stormwater treatment, and benefited the school through the construction of new parking lay-bys for students. The site is maintained by the City of Mississauga. Source: CVC
Each distinct area of your site can be a source for runoff
(referred to as a ‘source area’). These areas should be
targeted when introducing LID at your school.
===Targeting hard surfaces===
Parking areas represent the most significant source of
pollutant loading from school sites and contribute significantly
to increased runoff rates in comparison to natural conditions.
Parking lots of all sizes can be targeted for permeable
pavement retrofits. As an added benefit, permeable pavement
systems have a longer lifespan compared to conventional
asphalt.
High schools often have large parking lots where the capacity
outweighs the demand. These areas represent opportunities
to install bioswales or bioretention areas in parking lot islands.
Standard curbs with small cut-outs (called ‘curb cuts’) can
allow water to easily enter biorentention practices while also
preventing damage from cars. Often the existing drainage
patterns and catch basin locations can be preserved and
integrated into the design. These practices will also function
to improve pedestrian safety and calm traffic.
Other types of infiltrating practices like infiltration chambers
are gaining acceptance for their easy integration with parking
lot functions. These subsurface systems are typically installed
over a coarse granular reservoir to provide storage and
allow infiltration into native soils. Infiltration chambers under
conventional asphalt systems work well on sites where parking
demand does not allow space for a stormwater feature.
Grassed areas adjacent the parking lots are ideal areas to
implement bioswales or bioretention areas. Perforated pipe
systems may also work in areas adjacent to parking lots.
===Roof options===
Schools typically have large flat roofs that produce a significant
amount of runoff that is drained internally via rain leaders.
Schools also consume large quantities of water for flushing
toilets and urinals. Rainwater harvesting systems can tackle
both of these issues by intercepting this rooftop runoff and
re-using it for toilet flushing as well as outdoor irrigation. This
option has the benefit providing an ongoing financial benefit
through reduced water bills.
Roof runoff can also be directed to soakaways located on
passive use areas around the building. As this runoff comes
into contact with fewer hard surfaces, it produces better
quality runoff than roads and does not require pretreatment
devices.
Green roof retrofits are another retrofit option for schools.
When applying for external funding from organizations,
highlight the fact that green roofs reduce energy usage by
providing insulation during the winter and evaporative cooling
during the summer.
===Pollution prevention (P2)===
On school sites, P2 strategies and practices, such as modifying
de-icing programs and isolating drainage from waste storage
areas, can be applied to operations and maintenance
activities. Discuss these changes with your school board and
operations staff.
===School board partnerships with municipalities===
LID practices located on school grounds can also be used to
treat stormwater from external properties. These partnership
opportunities give schools the potential to create new revenue.
Accepting and treating runoff on your existing property can
make funds available through:
* Contributions to capital projects like parking lot rehabilitations which include rain gardens, permeable pavements, or subsurface infiltration facilities
* Ongoing revenues from long-term land leases to accommodate surface or subsurface LID retrofits
* Funds for maintenance of on-site LIDs
The table below identifies the LID practices that are common,
possible and unlikely options for the source areas that you
are likely to find on your school site. These source areas are:
thumb|Source areas within a typical school site.
* Active use area
* Passive use area
* Pedestrian walkway
* Internal driveway
* Parking lot
See the landforms of a school picture on the right for ideas on how to target these areas. The table below gives a more detailed breakdown of LID options for different source areas.
 LID opportunities at schools 
(** = Common, * = Possible, o = Unusual)
Source area 	Permeable pavements	Bioretention	Enhanced grass swales / bioswales	Green roofs	Soakaways and infiltration trenches	Perforated pipe systems	Rainwater harvesting	Landscape alternatives	Prefabricated modules	Pollution prevention
Active use area 	** 	** 	** 	o 	** 	* 	o 	* 	o 	**
Passive use area 	o 	** 	* 	o 	** 	** 	o 	** 	** 	**
Pedestrian walkway	** 	** 	** 	o 	** 	* 	o 	* 	o 	**
Internal driveway 	** 	** 	** 	o 	** 	** 	o 	o 	* 	**
Parking lot 	** 	** 	** 	o 	** 	** 	o 	o 	** 	**
Building 	* 	* 	* 	** 	** 	* 	** 	o 	o 	**
==Places of worship==
Each distinct area of a place of worship can be a source for runoff
(referred to as a ‘source area’). One or more of these areas
should be targeted when introducing LID at your place of
worship.
===Targeting hard surfaces===
Hard surfaces such as parking lots are a great opportunity to
implement LID. Parking lots are the main source of runoff and
represent the most significant source of stormwater pollutants
coming from your site.
Parking lots at places of worship are typically busy only on
select days of the week when groups gather for prayer or
other community activities. Due to this intermittent schedule,
parking lots at these facilities are often rented for other
purposes during times of low usage. On sites where peak
demand does not approach the total capacity of the lot,
consider reducing the parking surface.
Retrofit options for these large parking lot areas include
permeable pavement, bioswales and bioretention areas.
A benefit of permeable pavement systems is that they often
have a longer lifespan than conventional infrastructure.
The freeze-thaw cycle of the Ontario climate is tough on
pavement. Frost heaving and slumping can cause cracks and
potholes because of the expansion and contraction of water.
The expected lifespan for conventional asphalt pavement
in a northern climate, such as Ontario, is approximately 15 to
20 years. A well-maintained porous asphalt system can last for
over 30 years, and permeable interlocking concrete pavers
can have a design life of 20 to 25 years or greater.
Prefabricated modular infiltration chambers are gaining
acceptance because they are easy to integrate with parking
lot functions. These subsurface systems are typically installed
over a coarse granular reservoir to provide water storage and
allow infiltration into native soils. Infiltration chambers under
conventional asphalt systems work well on sites where parking
demand does not allow space for a stormwater feature.
Using LID techniques to manage stormwater can also
eliminate or reduce the need for an on-site storm sewer
system. By eliminating piping, failure points in the pavement,
such as areas around catch basins and manholes, can be
eliminated. A design that does not use storm sewers also
negates the need to replace on-site piping, thereby saving
long-term infrastructure replacement costs.
===Landscaped areas===
Landscaped or lawn areas adjacent to the parking lot or
building present opportunities for implementation of LID
practices such as bioswales and bioretention areas. These
areas typically accept runoff from nearby hard surfaces and
provide water quality and water balance benefits.
===Roof options===
Rainwater harvesting systems can be simple or complex
depending on the architecture and roof drainage patterns of
your building. Many places of worship have peaked roofs with
piping to convey water from the rooftop. If your site is set up
this way, it can be easy to integrate harvesting systems into
the landscape surrounding your building.
Roof runoff can also be directed to soakaways located on
passive use areas around your building. Due to the relatively
good quality of this runoff, pre-treatment devices are not
required.
===Source Areas===
The LID option that best fits your site will depend what types
of source areas are present. Types of source areas include:
thumb|Source areas within a typical place of worship
* Active use area
* Passive use area
* Pedestrian walkway
* Internal driveway
* Parking lot
At places of worship, pollution prevention is often associated with
changes to operations and maintenance practices and has
not been included in the table below. 
 LID opportunities at Places of Worship 
(** = Common, * = Possible, o = Unusual)
Source area 	Permeable pavements	Bioretention	Enhanced grass swales / bioswales	Green roofs	Soakaways and infiltration chambers	Perforated pipe systems	Rainwater harvesting	Landscape alternatives	Prefabricated modules	Pollution prevention
Active use area 	** 	** 	** 	o 	** 	* 	o 	* 	o 	o
Passive use area 	o 	** 	* 	o 	** 	** 	o 	** 	** 	o
Pedestrian walkway	** 	** 	** 	o 	** 	* 	o 	* 	o 	o
Internal driveway 	** 	** 	** 	o 	** 	** 	o 	o 	* 	*
Parking lot 	** 	** 	** 	o 	** 	** 	o 	o 	** 	*
Building 	* 	* 	* 	** 	** 	* 	** 	o 	o 	*
Category: Planning