2007 Highlights LIDs are Solid Performers Porous Asphalt An Evolving Process Collaboration A Growing Resource Impact on Policy Looking Ahead

In cold climates, LIDs outperform conventional systems.

LIDs are Solid Performers

With the benefit of a data set that extends over two years, researchers from the UNHSC compared the water quality treatment and runoff volume reduction performance of low impact development (LID) stormwater systems over a diverse range of seasonal conditions. What we have observed disproves common assumptions that LIDs do not fair well in the harsh winters that are common in cold climate regions.

In fact, all of the LID stormwater approaches we have monitored—bio-rentention systems, tree filter, porous asphalt parking lot, sand filter, and gravel wetland—demonstrated excellent water quality treatment and peak flow reduction year round.