Interviewing Experts: We appreciate you coming today to offer your perspective on this subject.
Dr. Hicham Riba: I’m honored to do so.
Interviewing Experts: Our conversation today is going to be about bioswales. What is a bioswale and why is a bioswale such a viable option for environmentalists?
Dr. Hicham Riba: A bioswale offers an attractive landscape while playing a significant role in the management of stormwater.
Interviewing Experts: Is the definition of a bioswale consistent across the world?
Dr. Hicham Riba: Bioswales are also known as in-line bioretention, grassed swales, biofilters or infiltration swales.
Interviewing Experts: What is the standard definition of a bioswale?
Dr. Hicham Riba: Bioswales are highly regarded as open channels that are vegetated and can help treat the runoff of stormwater.
Interviewing Experts: How does it compare to an open ditch?
Dr. Hicham Riba: A bioswale can also convey significant storm water volumes from the original source to a specific discharge point.
Interviewing Experts: How is a bioswale different from a ditch?
Dr. Hicham Riba: A bioswale is designed to slow water, which is then infiltrated along the path, allowing natural processes to serve as a cleansing agent for the storm water.
Interviewing Experts: What’s the comparison with a rain garden?
Dr. Hicham Riba: As opposed to a rain garden, a bioswale possesses a slope base that aids in water movement.
Interviewing Experts: What are the different kinds of bioswales?
Dr. Hicham Riba: These bioswales include wet swales, dry swales and grassed channels.
Interviewing Experts: How does a bioswale protect the water?
Dr. Hicham Riba: There are many different classes of water pollutants that can be inhibited by the usage of bioswales.
Interviewing Experts: Such as?
Dr. Hicham Riba: Pathogens, organic chemicals, inorganic contaminants and silt.
Interviewing Experts: What are some of the inorganic contaminants?
Dr. Hicham Riba: Inorganic compounds can be metallic compounds like cadmium, chromium, lead and various other metals.
Interviewing Experts: Which one is the most prevalent?
Dr. Hicham Riba: Lead is most common. Other prevalent inorganic compounds are nitrates and phosphates.
Interviewing Experts: Principal sources of these nutrients are excess fertilization, which may cause increased development in the waters.
Interviewing Experts: What are the chief organic chemicals?
Dr. Hicham Riba: Pesticides, which are generally overutilized in urban and agricultural landscaping, are the most prominent.
Interviewing Experts: How do these chemicals affect the environment?
Dr. Hicham Riba: These chemicals can often result in organism poisoning as well as aquatic ecosystem disturbance.
Interviewing Experts: What is their impact on the human population?
Dr. Hicham Riba: Pathogens can results in a wide range of diseases in both aquatic organisms and humans.
Interviewing Experts: This has all been valuable information to share with readers. It’s so appreciated!
Dr. Hicham Riba: I’m so glad to get the opportunity to speak with your audience. Thank you!
A graduate of New York University, Dr. Hicham Riba currently holds a realtor’s license from the state of Illinois.