Building Specific Galleries - Parking Lot
At first glance, visitors may notice nothing unusual while parking their cars at The Florida Aquarium. But closer inspection finds them right in the middle of the aquarium’s first exhibit – an experiment in parking lot design.
This cooperative project with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) is an experiment designed to filter and absorb water, reducing the negative effects of storm water run-off.
Interpretive signs explain that storm water run-off, which picks up oil and heavy metals from parking lots, is a major source of water pollution in Florida. Visitors learn how SWFWMUD is researching storm water management techniques at The Florida Aquarium in an effort to protect the state’s fragile beauty.
The parking lot is expected to absorb water much like a wetland area would. Rows of cars face each other, tilting down so pollutants can drain into areas called “swales” that are planted with native plants. Each swale reaches a larger “strand” of vegetation that ultimately drains into a storm water pond. By the time water has filtered through to the pond, or has percolated down to the groundwater, it will have been naturally cleansed.
SWFWMD also tests three parking lot surfaces – asphalt, pavers and pervious concrete – to determine which is most effective in managing storm water run-off. Ultimately, studies of The Florida Aquarium parking lot will help storm water management statewide.
|
