Carrboro: Weaver Community
A Weaver Community Housing Association co-op based in Carrboro was in need of improved drainage. The community has been nicknamed “The Bog” due to the property’s poor drainage and persistent ponding. According to the tenants, this ponding water caused mold to form in the structures and caused foundation cracks in some places. The inadequate drainage also supported mosquitos and other insect infestations. While the residents were aware of the issues, they found the cost to remedy the problems was too high. With grant funding from the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the the Orange County Community Climate Action Grant program, the USS team of contractors installed a variety of stormwater management practices to remediate the drainage and to treat the stormwater before it leaves the property.
We identified six areas that with improvement would help mitigate drainage and environmental issues within the community.
Chicken Coop
Upper Grassed Swale
Lower Grassed Swale (The Bog)
Cisterns
Garden Beds
Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC)
The chicken coop utilizes sustainable animal husbandry. The relocation of the chicken coop assists in the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorus to Bolin Creek. A deer fence was also installed in this area to create a sustainable community garden.
The Chicken Coop
Before
After
The Grassed Swale
The grassed swale is a system that creates positive drainage from the residential structure to reduce the moisture levels in crawl spaces and improve overall air quality. The swale provides filtration of rooftop pollutants to improve downstream water quality. The removal of invasive/exotic vegetation in this area has increased the flow of stormwater away from the residential structure.
Before
After
The Bog
“The Bog” is another grassed swale installation. This green infrastructure practice also aids in providing positive drainage away from the residential structure to improve moisture levels and air quality, filters pollutants, and contains native plant species.
Before
After
Cisterns
Ten 500-gallon cisterns were installed, one per residential unit. The cisterns collect and store stormwater runoff from rooftops that can be used for gardening. The cisterns were manufactured by a local North Carolina company, Carolina Water Tank. The passive drawdown from the cisterns flow to the vegetated swale buffers. Any overflow from the cisterns goes into the regenerative stormwater conveyance.
Before
After
Garden Beds
Multiple garden beds were installed to create a sustainable community garden. The garden beds offer educational opportunities for local youth and facilitates multigenerational interactions. The garden beds are watered by the cisterns.
Before
After
Regenerative Stormwater Conveyance (RSC)
The regenerative stormwater conveyance (RSC) provides the attenuation of stormwater runoff into an ephemeral channel flowing into Bolin Creek. The design mimics a natural stream with ponding pools that slows the movement of water, mitigating erosion and allowing for newly planted natives to absorb the rainwater.
Before
After
Total Investment Breakdown
In February 2024, USS was awarded $220,000 in funding to cover 60% of the costs of SCM installations in the Bolin Creek watershed of Carrboro, Orange County, NC. This project was funded by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality through Section 319 of the Federal Clean Water Act, administered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
USS was simultaneously awarded $69,156 from the Orange County Community Climate Action Grant (OCCCAG) program to supplement the EPA funding, providing 100% funding to install sustainable stormwater infrastructure on underserved properties. The OCCCAG funds will also help create after-school internship opportunities for Orange County high-school students to be trained and then paid to design and install rain gardens and/or cisterns on Orange County properties. USS is currently recruiting teachers in Orange County, and they can register here. The total cost to complete this project equaled $82,335.98.
Stats & Facts
Chicken Waste= 1,950 lbs./year
Nitrogen= 21.4 lbs./year
Phosphorous= 1.24 lbs./year
Sediment= 625.235 lbs./year
Cubic Feet of Water Treated= 20,732.46 (161,713.25 gallons)
Keep scrolling to see pictures of all of the amazing volunteers, residents, WCHA members, USS Staff, and contractors that came together to make this project possible!
