Rain and Drain Infographics

Jeremy Renji Cherian (top left), Ori Epstein (top right), Jared Acosta (bottom left), Elise Chiu (bottom right)

Though flooding and sewage overflow and water contamination through stormwater runoff are multi-factorial issues, we are committed to exploring practical and effective solutions to this issue. We believe that educating a community also empowers it and hope to see an increase in understanding of water systems that are seemingly invisible yet impactful to everyone.

How often do citizens understand or consider why sidewalks and roads are made differently or why some places have interlocking? It may seem like a random or simply aesthetic decision but it can play a role in preventing flooding and combined sewer overflow. Ferguson Avenue (near Cannon) is a well developed street in Hamilton that uses interlocking. Our team wants to create infographics to install beside the sidewalk and hang on lamp posts. The series of infographics would contain information about how impermeable surfaces affect Hamilton, the impact of interlocking, and how citizens can help (for example by installing interlocking on their driveways).

PROS

• Allows ground under pavement to absorb water
• Reduces amount of impermeable surfaces
• Hypothetically retains some road salt and consequently requires less salting
• May allow more water to flow through and result in less roading cracking due to winter freezing
• Porous concrete may filter pollutants as water flows through

CONS

• More expensive installation fee than traditional concrete
• May require specific maintenance such as road vacuuming
• Can be more fragile and crack more easily from heavy vehicles

We acknowledge that certain groups, specifically those who are blind, are visually impaired, or have a language barrier, may not be able to access our posters. As such, we will collaborate with the City of Hamilton to make an accompanying website that accommodates those needs. We will also ensure diverse representation in our posters. There are no financial barriers on the consumers' end.

We decided after community feedback to implement a more education-oriented approach instead of using permeable concrete. We found that permeable concrete had issues regarding maintenance and with industrial chemicals and oil near industrial facilities. Community members also preferred green solutions, and additionally, permeable concrete costs is very expensive. We believe that education would be better for the community.

The creation of posters has minimal costs. We believe that the project is socially desirable as it raises awareness, but some may find the posters to be an eyesore, as such we will design them to be visually appealing. The project's main environmental concerns relate to materials used to make the posters, as well as our inability to control where the posters end up.

QR codes can track the number of scans and frequency of scans, with out disclosing the identity of individuals

One way to implement these infographics is through construction site fences. Fences are often placed close to paths where people walk making accessible to most people. The short term nature of construction site fences prevents citizens from getting too bored of the same infographic.

Our infographics both beautify and educate communities. It is interactive through flaps that sequentially tell a story about where rain goes in different situations.