San Diego, CA
VA San Diego Healthcare System
Stormwater Master Plan
• Situation
- Urban runoff is a leading cause of pollution of California’s rivers, lakes, bays, and ocean. Common pollutants include: oil and grease from roadways and parking lots; pesticides and herbicides from landscaping; sediment from construction sites and erosion; metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from vehicles; and litter and trash. Pollutants can be carried into nearby waterways by storm water runoff, discouraging recreational use and negatively impacting natural ecosystems.
- The VA San Diego Healthcare System requires a Storm Water Management Plan (SWMP) to be prepared in accordance with the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Phase II Stormwater Regulations, promulgated under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and incorporated into the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) General Permit for Storm Water Discharges from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s).
• Action
- Current task order includes the development of a Stormwater Management Plan that brings the VA San Diego Healthcare System into compliance with the Phase II Small MS4 General Permit, the development of a maintenance plan for the current storm drain system, and the identification of all deficiencies and the application of measures to correct them.
- Conduct a site survey identifying all stormwater risk sources, sampling of stormwater runoff, and analysis of effluent testing results.
• Results
- GDM developed a stormwater model in Civil3D that represents the current hydraulic analysis of the campus the deficiencies in the existing infrastructure, and the location of the flow outfalls.
- Coordinated with COR and VASDHS Engineering Office, Environment al Management Services and Environmental
- Health and Safety Office; while creating minimal to no disruption to the facility routine operation.
- Developing design options that include best management practices and recommendations for stormwater infrastructure improvement.
- The identification and development of a path towards compliance with the Phase II Small MS4 General Permit.
• Relevance and Benefit to the Department of Veterans Affairs
- Demonstrated performance of stormwater analysis and design for VA medical facilities.
- Project performance includes use of Civil3d for hydraulic analysis and design, development of stormwater control measures, regulatory compliance review, and the review of the VASDHS legal authority in implementing the developed program.
- This project is relevant because it illustrates the ability to as-built existing systems at VA medical facilities.