Peace Arch Visitor Centre, Surrey BC
Parking Lot Run-off Treatment & Discharge

Cascade Envirotech produced and supplied reactive filter media for this project to treat pollutants that accumulate from heavy traffic flows at the border crossing site south of Vancouver. The media mix was specially designed based on analysis of pollution profiles occurring in the run-off from site. Porous paving material allows infiltration of stormwater to the rain gardens and bio-swale. Run-off is treated for excess nutrients, hydrocarbons and metals and is released to ground and local waterways. The project was completed in 2009 and was designed to LEED Gold standard. Treatment of the stormwater and the use of recycled material in the filter media contribute directly towards meeting those standards of sustainability.

LEED sustainable site
a different kind of storm system

This project employs a revolutionary storm drainage system. Rainwater carrying oils and other pollutants from the roadway is transferred into the ground through pervious concrete under each parking stall. The water flows into the swale, where a special soil mixture has been developed specifically for this project — the first time this has been done in Canada. Bacteria in this soil mixture consume the pollutants in the storm water, and most of the water is dispersed into the soil rather than continuing into the storm sewer.

Landscape Architect: van der Zalm + Associates Inc.
Civil Engineering Consultant: R.F. Binnie & Associates Ltd.