This project at Toms River High School North and Toms River Board of Education in the township of Toms River, NJ included the installation of ten stormwater management improvements, and was part of a larger series of projects aimed at improving stormwater management practices in the Long Swamp Creek watershed. With the implementation of these structures at Toms River High School North and the Board of Education, potential sources of pollution in stormwater runoff will be removed before entering the ecosystem. These structures include the following:
Click "here" for JPEG of Toms River High School North Sign
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Click "here" for JPEG of Toms River Board of Education Sign
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Manufactured treatment device (MTD)
The Manufactured Treatment Device (MTD) used at Toms River High School North and at the Board of Education treats stormwater runoff underground. An MTD is installed along a storm sewer line to capture pollution during storm events. These devices use a hydrodynamic separator that combines swirl concentration and flow controls the traps and retains trash, debris, sediment, and hydrocarbons from the schools parking lot runoff. The installation of these MTD allows for excess sediment to settle within its compartments, which results in a reduction of total suspended solids before they reach a river or stream. For clean-out maintenance purposes, their are visible manhole covers on the surface of each device.
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Planter boxes
At Toms River High School North, two 350 square foot Filterra stormwater planter boxes were installed between the school building and the adjacent parking lot. These Filterra units are unique in which the working components are both visible above ground and hidden below ground. The three primary components of such a structure are: a chamber, soil media, and the plants. Unlike its smaller relative, the tree box, these Filterra planter boxes are large enough for both trees and an assortment of additional flowers and plants. When rain falls, these planter boxes act as bio-filtration systems that perform pollutant removal via filtration and adsorption.
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FILTERRA UNIT
A Filterra unit tree box was installed in one of the parking lots at Toms River High School North. Stormwater enters the Filterra system through a curb inlet opening and flows through a specially designed filter media mixture contained in a landscaped concrete container. Filterra units come in different shapes and sizes and can be planted with trees, shrubs, flowering plants, and more which additionally help to perform pollutant removal
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NATIVE PLANT RAIN GARDEN
At both Toms River High School North and Toms River Board of Education, native plant rain gardens were installed. Using native plants in gardening is an excellent way to decrease water pollution while creating habitat for pollinators and birds. Unlike foreign plants, native plants are adapted to their place of origin, and in turn, require little to no maintenance. Additionally, unlike non-native species, native plants are beneficial to wildlife in the surrounding area who can use them for food or shelter. When these native plants are used in a garden system, they act to remove harmful chemicals and excess nutrients from stormwater runoff before it infiltrates into the ground or makes its way to a stream or river.
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Bayscape demonstration garden
A bayscape demonstration garden was installed at Toms River High School North in the western portion of the project location. The garden is located next to a parking lot, directly behind home plate of the baseball field. This native plant demonstration garden acts as a rain garden would, collecting the adjacent runoff from the parking lots and fields to increase water quality while creating habitat for pollinators and birds.
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Porous concrete pavement
At both Toms River High School North and Toms River Board of Education, porous concrete pavement was used to replace segments of impervious parking lot cover. When it rains, stormwater from roads, parking lots, and other impervious surfaces pollute our local water ways. Allowing stormwater to infiltrate rather than be conveyed through a stromwater system, allows for microbes in the soil to “digest” contaminants and purify stormwater naturally before it reaches underground drinking aquifers. Unlike traditional pavement, porous concrete pavement is constructed using a low proportion of fine aggregates, leaving void space in the once impervious surface. The void space allows for water to seep into the ground, also known as stormwater infiltration, which in turn, increases groundwater recharge and deceases stormwater runoff
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Interested in learning more? Are you:
A Municipal Official?
- Please click "Technical Publication" for details on stormwater improvements that can be implemented in your town. |
A Concerned Clean Water Advocate?
- Please click "Clean Water Beautiful Bay" for a brochure on stormwater improvements that you can share with your local officials. |
A Planner or Engineer?
- Please click "Basin Prioritization Matrix" to understand how to target the most crucial areas in a watershed for stormwater improvements. |
Funding for this project provided through a Watershed Restoration 319(h) Grant from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (Grant #RP11-038)