Water retention is this month’s subject. And, no, I’m not referring to the kind that sends you to see your doctor. I’m talking about water retention that results in quickly shedding water, while the goal in (commercial) real estate is to hold a portion of rain water to prevent or minimize flooding. But both look to achieve a healthy balance that nature intended.
As all the snow this winter melts, developers and municipalities work in concert when planning a development to achieve the natural watershed (or run off of water) that existed on a parcel or tract of land before it is developed.
Water retention is achieved in many ways. One way is the process of collecting rain water (including ice melt) and holding for a period of time, releasing it slowly.
As development occurs, solid surfaces are built, covering up the natural watershed, so diversion systems and collection basins must be built to regulate the speed in which water is emptied into the surrounding area.
Water retention diversion also is achieved in many ways, the most commonly known is ponds, followed by open parks and fields, and some high tech parking surfaces, like semi permeable brick pavers and asphalt paving.
We will talk about how parks are used for this purpose in the coming months. But for now, the next time you set up your lawn chair on an open park field, think of how you retain water, maybe like that field. Or maybe think how you would like to retain less water when you try to pull your stuck chair out of the mud.
