Download Edwards` Central Park

Central Park
Stormwater Control & Landscape Sustainability
Central Park
Stormwater and Landscape Sustainability
AFTER
BEFORE
Stormwater Harvesting Tanks
Water Capture and Reuse
“Smart” Irrigation System
50% Less Water per Acre
In Spring of 2014, Edwards completed its 3.8 acre Central Park project, with an emphasis for
employee enjoyment, green aesthetics and environmental sustainability.
EDWARDS’ STORMWATER ENHANCEMENTS:
Currently, the stormwater runoff of approximately 80% of Edwards Irvine Campus is either
treated with underground filtration systems, aboveground natural bioswales or water collection
and reclamation storage tanks. This prevents potentially contaminated and untreated
stormwater from making its way to the pristine beaches surrounding the City of Laguna Beach,
home of much California natural wildlife, including many local species of plants, avians and
marine animals.
Specific to Edwards’ Central Park project, which previously served as 158,000 square foot
employee parking lot, Edwards installed two 30,000 gallon stormwater harvesting tanks to
collect stormwater runoff and reduce water consumption; one of the largest rainwater collection
systems in Orange County and the first such system in the City of Irvine.
On an annual average basis, based on Southern California rainfall measurements and EPA
calculation standards, the harvesting system is expected to harvest a footprint of three acres,
equivalent to approximately 450,000 gallons of rainwater each year. The tanks not only prevent
runoff, but also serve to collect water on-site for reuse as landscape irrigation. The Central Park
also includes bio-retention planters which collect, contain or natural clean another 800,000
gallons of stormwater before it enters the storm drain system.
Central Park
Stormwater Control & Landscape Sustainability
In order to gain the greatest benefit for the rainwater harvesting, a thoughtful combination of
native and drought tolerant materials have been used for the landscape palette with an efficient
irrigation system complete with state-of-the-art “smart” controllers. The landscape design
requires 50% less water than what is typically required by code baseline design, which, in turn,
extends the time and benefits that the harvesting system is used. Overall, the Central Park turf
uses 71,000 gallons per year, while the stormwater harvesting tanks can reserve up to 60,000
gallons per rain event. Essentially, very little new water is required to sustain the park’s
landscape throughout the year.
In addition, all green cuttings and landscape waste is transported to a nearby mulching facility,
which also serves as Edwards’ own source for purchasing fertilizers and clean mulch. This
overall process creates a continuous loop of environmental sustainability for Edwards’ green
campus.
The Central Park is a model project of how to incorporate new sustainable low environmental
impact design standards.