The answer found in nature

World Water Day was celebrated on March 22 and focused on the importance of water, which built the theme “Nature for Water” – exploring nature-based solutions to the water challenges we face in the 21st century. 

In celebration of this day, the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron Installation Management Flight performed maintenance on eight Filterra Stormwater Bioretention Systems, at the LaSalle gate on Langley Air Force Base.

The FSB systems are stormwater infiltration boxes that work like a biorentention system. 

Stormwater runoff flows into the system through a curb inlet on the street. The water makes its way through specialized media, mulch and natural vegetation that capture pollutants and naturally clean the water. The clean water flows through an underdrain pipe that leads to Tide Mill Creek.

These specialized boxes can take in and clean, high flow rates of up to 140 inches of water an hour, to meet the Environmental Protection Agency and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality’s high standards of clean water.

According to Dawn Christian, 633rd CES water program manager, Langley AFB uses multiple nature based solutions on and around the base, to help protect the environment from pollutants. 

"In general I think most people are aware of the harm to aquatic habitats, like our oceans, that is impacting the environment,” said Alicia Garcia 633rd CES natural resources program manager. “However, I think sometimes people miss the fact that especially here in coastal communities we are directly connected to those aquatic habitats. Stormwater flows from land into creeks and rivers which connect to the ocean.”

According to Garcia, by putting in filtration systems that help to clean that stormwater before it can flow into those habitats, JBLE can protect the environment and the organisms that depend on it.

“Local watermen harvest these resources to support themselves and to provide food which is part of the cultural heritage of the tidewater region,” said Garcia. “By protecting the environment we help protect the economy and culture of the region.”

As a good steward of the environment, JBLE is committed to being a good neighbor to surrounding communities, protecting the quality of the water around the installation.