DRAFT FOR REFERENCE ONLY

DRAWING No.
STANDARD DETAIL DRAWINGS
ENGINEERING SERVICES - VANCOUVER, B.C. GI7.0A

BIOSWALE DESIGN NOTES AND GUIDANCE

PURPOSE:
RELATED DETAILS
BIOSWALE SYSTEMS RETAIN RAINWATER RUNOFF BY PROVIDING SURFACE STORAGE, SUBSURFACE STORAGE
AND INFILTRATION INTO NATIVE SOIL. BIOSWALES CAN ALSO REDUCE THE PEAK FLOW ENTERING SEWERS AND GI - GI
EDGE TREATMENTS 3.5 3.6
REMOVE RAINWATER FROM ENTERING SEWERS. BIOSWALES ARE SIMILAR TO BIORETENTION SYSTEMS BUT CAN
PROVIDE SOME SURFACE CONVEYANCE AND ARE GENERALLY EMPLOYED ALONG THE FULL LENGTH OF A
ROADWAY. THEY ARE DISTINCT FROM INFILTRATION SYSTEMS BECAUSE THEY INCLUDE SURFACE VEGETATION. GI - GI
INLETS 2.1 2.6

GI
DESIGNER NOTES & GUIDELINES: UNDERDRAINS: 3.7

GI
CHECK DAMS: 4.7
1. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, ROAD DRAINAGE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO DRAIN INTO ROW BIOSWALES
THROUGH CURB CUTS. WHERE THIS OCCURS, REFER TO STD. GI7.2.
GI
MONITORING WELL 3.2
2. DRAWING 7.1 SHOULD BE USED WHEN NO ROAD DRAINAGE IS NOT DIRECTED TO THE BIOSWALE.
GI
3. THE DESIGNER MUST ADAPT PLAN AND SECTION DRAWINGS TO ADDRESS SITE-SPECIFIC CONDITIONS. CLEANOUTS 3.4

4. SYSTEM SURFACE AREA, PONDING DEPTH, SOIL DEPTH, AND AGGREGATE STORAGE DEPTH MUST BE GI GI
WEIRS AND SEDIMENT PAD
SIZED TO MEET PROJECT HYDROLOGIC PERFORMANCE GOALS. 4.5 4.6

5. PONDING AND SYSTEM DRAWDOWN TIME (i.e., TIME FOR MAXIMUM SURFACE PONDING TO DRAIN GI
INSPECTION CHAMBERS 3.3
THROUGH THE SYSTEM AFTER THE END OF A STORM) RECOMMENDATIONS:
GI GI
24 HOUR MAXIMUM SURFACE PONDING DRAWDOWN CATCHBASINS 3.1 3.8
72 HOUR MAXIMUM DRAWDOWN FOR RTT SOIL AND AGGREGATE STORAGE

6. BIOSWALE SYSTEMS MAY BE DESIGNED USING AGGREGATE STORAGE OR PROPRIETARY STORAGE

SYSTEMS. ALL PROPOSED PRODUCTS FOR USE IN RIGHT-OF-WAYS MUST MEET CITY OF VANCOUVER
SPECIFICATIONS REGARDING LOADING CAPACITY OF RIGHT-OF-WAY INFRASTRUCTURE.

7. WHEN FACILITY CONSTRUCTION IMPACTS EXISTING SIDEWALK, ALL SAW CUTS MUST ADHERE TO CITY
OF VANCOUVER REQUIREMENTS. SAW CUTS SHOULD BE ALONG SCORE LINES AND ANY DISTURBED
SIDEWALK PANELS SHOULD BE REPLACED IN THEIR ENTIRETY.

8. GI FACILITIES IN PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY SHALL BE DESIGNED WITH A SAFE, DESIGNATED OVERLAND RELATED SPECIFICATIONS COV SPEC NO.
FLOW PATH TO THE STREET IN THE EVENT THAT THE OVERFLOW STRUCTURE IS OBSTRUCTED OR
CLOGGED. THIS FLOW PATH SHOULD BE REFLECTED IN SITE GRADING AND LABELED ON GI DRAWINGS.
- AGGREGATE STORAGE 32 11 23
- DRAINAGE FABRIC 31 32 20
9. THE DESIGNER MUST EVALUATE UTILITY SURVEYS FOR POTENTIAL UTILITY CROSSINGS OR CONFLICTS.
- LINERS 33 47 13.13
- ENGINEERED SOIL 32 91 22S
10. MINIMUM UTILITY SETBACKS AND PROTECTION MEASURES MUST CONFORM TO CURRENT CITY OF
- BIORETENTION SOIL* 32 91 23S
VANCOUVER ASSET PROTECTION STANDARDS AND OTHER UTILITY PROVIDER REQUIREMENTS.
* TEMPLATE ONLY. AVAILABLE UPON
REQUEST FROM THE GII BRANCH.

LAYOUT REQUIREMENTS: DESIGNER CHECKLIST (MUST SPECIFY, AS APPLICABLE):

1. REFER TO THE CITY OF VANCOUVER ACCESSIBILITY STRATEGY, SYSTEM WIDTH AND LENGTH
STANDARD DRAWINGS AND CONSTRUCTION SPECIFICATIONS FOR DEPTH OF PONDING (IF APPLICABLE)
RIGHT-OF-WAY, PARKING SPACE, AND ACCESSIBLE PATH
REQUIREMENTS. DEPTH OF SYSTEM

2. LOCATE CURB CUTS AND GUTTER MODIFICATIONS TO AVOID
CONFLICTS WITH ACCESSIBILITY REQUIREMENTS (E.G., LOCATE
OUTSIDE OF CROSSWALKS).
DEPTH AND TYPE OF AGGREGATE STORAGE
SURFACE ELEVATION AT UPSLOPE AND DOWNSLOPE ENDS OF FACILITY
DIMENSIONS AND DISTANCE TO EVERY MUNICIPAL SERVICE/UTILITY WITHIN
10m OF THE FACILITY
ELEVATIONS OF EVERY INLET, OUTLET, STRUCTURE RIM AND INVERT,

TYPE AND DESIGN OF COMPONENTS (E.G., EDGE TREATMENTS, INLETS/GUTTER

MODIFICATIONS, UTILITY CROSSINGS, LINER, AND PLANTING DETAILS)

BIOSWALES ISSUE DATE: DECEMBER 2023

APPROVED BY: N. MEAD-FOX
REV. REVISION DATE APPROVED
DESIGN NOTES AND GUIDANCE
 DRAFT FOR REFERENCE ONLY
DRAWING No.
STANDARD DETAIL DRAWINGS
ENGINEERING SERVICES - VANCOUVER, B.C. GI7.0B

BIOSWALE DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

BIOSWALE DESIGN NOTES THE BIOSWALE DESIGN NOTES PROVIDE GUIDANCE TO DESIGNERS ON HOW TO USE AND ADAPT THE TEMPLATE STANDARDS
GI7.0A IN THIS SECTION.
AND GUIDANCE

BIOSWALE DRAWING THIS DRAWING DESCRIBES THE PURPOSE AND INTENDED USE OF EACH RAINWATER TREE TRENCH DRAWING
GI7.0B
DESCRIPTIONS

GI7.1 IS FOR SYSTEMS THAT ONLY RECEIVE OVERLAND DRAINAGE FROM ADJACENT SIDEWALKS, BOULEVARDS,OR
BIOSWALE - NO ROAD BIKE LANES. THIS SYSTEM SHOULD ONLY BE USED WHEN ROADWAY DRAINAGE CAPTURE IS DEEMED INFEASIBLE
GI7.1 OR IF THE ALLOCATED BOULEVARD SPACE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO ACCOMMODATE ROAD RUNOFF.
DRAINAGE

GI7.2 IS FOR BIOSWALES THAT RECEIVE OVERLAND DRAINAGE FROM THE ROADWAY THROUGH CURB CUTS. THIS
BIOSWALE - RECEIVING DESIGN IS PREFERRED TO GI7.1 BECAUSE IT CAN CAPTURE A LARGER DRAINAGE AREA AND USES THE FULL
GI7.2 CAPACITY OF THE SWALE.
ROAD DRAINAGE

BIOSWALES ISSUE DATE: DECEMBER 2023

APPROVED BY: N. MEAD-FOX
REV. REVISION DATE APPROVED
BIOSWALE DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS
 DRAFT FOR REFERENCE ONLY
DRAWING No.
STANDARD DETAIL DRAWINGS
ENGINEERING SERVICES - VANCOUVER, B.C. GI7.1

CITY STANDARD NO. S11.6

OR PVC CB
90-120mm ROUND
RIVER ROCK STONE
NEW TOP OF CURB GI BANDING - NO
TRAPPING HOOD
REINFORCEMENT. SEE
GI3.6A BIORETENTION SOIL
0.16 VARIES NEW ROAD CURB
REFER TO CITY OF CONTINUED USE OF EXISTING CB IS

0.15 MAX
VANCOUVER SIDEWALK
PREFERRED. REFER TO CITY 0.32 CB CONNECTION TO
LANDSCAPING

0.14
REFERENCE DRAWINGS STANDARD S11.3 OR GI PVC CB STORM SEWER

0.35
AND SPECIFICATIONS
FOR ADDITIONAL
0.20
GUIDANCE

BIKE PATH OR SIDEWALK

GRANULAR BASE (COV #9)
CLEANOUT WITH LID
COMPACTED TO 95% 0.60 MAX
ATERIAL DEPTH CURB & MPMDD. MIN 150mm
GUTTER (TYP)
90-120mm ROUND RIVER ROCK STONE
AROUND BANDING

NON-WOVEN DRAINAGE
FABRIC PER CITY
STANDARD

CITY OF VANCOUVER PERFORATED PIPE

STD PAVEMENT SECTION CB CONNECTION TO STORM SEWER
CONNECTION TO CB A-A: CATCHBASIN SECTION

150mm PERFORATED PVC UNDER

DRAIN (SEE GI3.7)
GI BANDING - NO SHREDDED WOOD

0.05 MIN
REINFORCEMENT. SEE VARIES MULCH
GI3.6A 0.15 0.30 BIORETENTION SOIL
SIDEWALK / BIKE LANE NEW ROAD CURB

VARIES
STRUCTURAL SOIL OR SOIL

0.35
CELLS 0.15
EDGE OF PAVEMENT

0.45 MIN
SEWER CONNECTED

0.15
CATCHBASIN

SEWER CONNECTION WITH

MAINLINE STORM SEWER
20mm CLEAR CRUSH AGGREGATE
(CoV #15) GRANULAR BASE (COV #9)
COMPACTED TO 95%
MPMDD. MIN 150mm CRUSHED GRANULAR
AROUND BANDING

0.20 MIN
SUB-BASE PER

SWALE TO RECEIVE OVERLAND FLOW

VARIES CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
NON-WOVEN DRAINAGE
UNDERDRAIN CLEANOUT
FABRIC PER CITY 20mm CLEAR CRUSH
(SEE GI3.4) CONNECTED TO

FROM SIDEWALK OR BIKE LANE

PERFORATED PIPE STANDARD AGGREGATE (CoV #15)
OPTIONAL 150mm PVC
VARIES UNDERDRAIN -
PERFORATED HOLES AT
4 & 8 O'CLOCK - LAID AT
NOTES: 0% FALL B-B: STANDARD SWALE SECTION
1. IF APPROVED BY PROJECT ENGINEER, CATCHBASINS MAY BE SHREDDED WOOD MULCH

0.05 MIN
REPLACED WITH PVC CATCHBASINS (GI3.8) GI BANDING - NO BIORETENTION SOIL
REINFORCEMENT. SEE GI3.6A VARIES
2. LABEL AND DISPLAY ALL UTILITIES AND/OR SERVICES THAT CROSS NEW ROAD CURB
0.15 0.3 MIN
BELOW OR THROUGH THE INFILTRATION TRENCH ALONG WITH THEIR SIDEWALK / BIKE LANE
INVERT ELEVATIONS

0.35
3. SHOW ALL UTILITY PROTECTION MEASURES AND SETBACKS FOR

MIN 0.45
SERVICES AND/OR UTILITY CONFLICTS

0.15
CRUSHED GRANULAR
4. PRE-SURVEY OF THE EXISTING CATCH BASIN (CB) CONDITIONS MUST GRANULAR BASE (COV #9) SUB-BASE PER CONTRACT
NEW CURB BANDING EDGE TO COMPACTED TO 95% DOCUMENTS
BE CONDUCTED. THE PICTURES OF CBS ( INSIDE AND OUTSIDE) , WELL SIDEWALK. SEE GI3.6.
MPMDD. MIN 150mm
ORGANIZED AND CORRELATED WITH THE CB LOCATION, ARE AROUND BANDING
SUFFICIENT.
5. CORE OPENING IN THE EXISTING CB WALL TO SUIT PVC PERFORATED NON-WOVEN DRAINAGE VARIES
PIPE CONNECTION. PVC PIPE IS TO BE SAND BLASTED, COATED WITH FABRIC PER CITY STANDARD
ADHESIVE AND SAND (ROUGHEN UP) PRIOR TO THE INSERTION INTO
THE CORE. GROUT ANNULAR OPENING AROUND THE PIPE WITH SCARIFICATION ALONG
NON-SHRINK GROUT. TRENCH BOTTOM
6. COV REPRESENTATIVE ( SEWER MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR) SHALL
INSPECT AND APPROVE THE CONNECTION PRIOR TO THE PIPE BEING
BURIED. CONTACT SEWERS AT 604-871-6170 TO ARRANGE FOR C-C: NO UNDERDRAIN SECTION
INSPECTION. PROVIDE AT LEAST 48 HOURS NOTIFICATION.

ISSUE DATE: DECEMBER 2023

BIOSWALES
BIOSWALE - NO ROAD DRAINAGE APPROVED BY: N. MEAD-FOX
REV. REVISION DATE APPROVED
 DRAFT FOR REFERENCE ONLY
DRAWING No.
STANDARD DETAIL DRAWINGS
ENGINEERING SERVICES - VANCOUVER, B.C. GI7.2
BIOSWALE WITH UNDERDRAIN CITY STANDARD NO. S11.6
OR PVC CB
90-120mm ROUND
RIVER ROCK STONE
NEW TOP OF CURB GI BANDING - NO
TRAPPING HOOD
REINFORCEMENT. SEE
GI3.6A BIORETENTION SOIL
NEW ROAD CURB
CONTINUED USE OF 0.16 VARIES

0.15 MAX
EXISTING CB IS PREFERRED. 0.32 CB CONNECTION TO

0.14
REFER TO CITY STANDARD STORM SEWER

0.35
S11.3 OR GI PVC CB 0.20
REFER TO CITY OF
VANCOUVER SIDEWALK
LANDSCAPING 90-120mm ROUND RIVER
CURB CUT INLET REFERENCE DRAWINGS ROCK STONE GRANULAR BASE (COV #9)
AND SPECIFICATIONS COMPACTED TO 95% 0.60 MAX
FOR ADDITIONAL MPMDD. MIN 150mm
BIKE PATH OR AROUND BANDING
GUIDANCE
SIDEWALK
ARTERIAL DEPTH NON-WOVEN DRAINAGE
CURB & GUTTER FABRIC PER CITY
(TYP) STANDARD

CB CONNECTION TO STORM PERFORATED PIPE

SEWER CONNECTION TO CB A-A: CATCHBASIN SECTION
150mm PERFORATED PVC
UNDER DRAIN (SEE GI3.7)
GI BANDING - NO SHREDDED WOOD

0.05 MIN
CITY OF VANCOUVER
REINFORCEMENT. SEE VARIES MULCH
STD PAVEMENT SECTION
GI3.6A 0.15 0.30 BIORETENTION SOIL
SIDEWALK / BIKE LANE NEW ROAD CURB

VARIES

0.35
0.15
EDGE OF PAVEMENT

0.45 MIN

0.15
STRUCTURAL SOIL OR 20mm CLEAR CRUSH
CLEANOUT WITH LID
SOIL CELLS AGGREGATE (CoV #15) GRANULAR BASE (COV #9)
COMPACTED TO 95%
SEWER CONNECTED MPMDD. MIN 150mm CRUSHED GRANULAR
CATCHBASIN SEWER CONNECTION AROUND BANDING

0.20 MIN
SUB-BASE PER

SWALE TO RECEIVE OVERLAND FLOW

WITH MAINLINE VARIES
STORM SEWER CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
UNDERDRAIN CLEANOUT NON-WOVEN DRAINAGE
FABRIC PER CITY 20mm CLEAR CRUSH
(SEE GI3.4) CONNECTED TO

FROM SIDEWALK OR BIKE LANE

STANDARD AGGREGATE (CoV #15)
PERFORATED PIPE
OPTIONAL 150mm PVC
UNDERDRAIN -
PERFORATED HOLES AT
4 & 8 O'CLOCK - LAID AT
CURB CUT INLET (SEE GI2.3 0% FALL B-B: STANDARD SWALE SECTION
NOTES: OR GI2.4)
1. IF APPROVED BY PROJECT ENGINEER, CATCHBASINS MAY BE BOTTOM OF CURB CUT
REPLACED WITH PVC CATCHBASINS (GI3.8) TOP OF RIVER ROCK TO BE
2. LABEL AND DISPLAY ALL UTILITIES AND/OR SERVICES THAT CROSS 90-120mm ROUND RIVER 0.05m MIN BELOW THE
BELOW OR THROUGH THE INFILTRATION TRENCH ALONG WITH THEIR BOTTOM OF THE CURB CUT
ROCK STONE
INLET SEDIMENT PAD OR
INVERT ELEVATIONS TAPER GUTTER FROM
SHREDDED WOOD MULCH BASIN. SEE GI2.5 OR

0.05 MIN
3. SHOW ALL UTILITY PROTECTION MEASURES AND SETBACKS FOR STANDARD GUTTER SLOPE
GI2.6
SERVICES AND/OR UTILITY CONFLICTS TO DEPRESSED GUTTER VARIES
GI BANDING - NO CURB CUT INLET.
SLOPE OF 8%.
4. PRE-SURVEY OF THE EXISTING CATCH BASIN (CB) CONDITIONS MUST REINFORCEMENT. SEE 0.15 SEE GI2.3 OR GI2.4
BE CONDUCTED. THE PICTURES OF CBS ( INSIDE AND OUTSIDE) , WELL GI3.6A
NEW CURB BANDING EDGE
ORGANIZED AND CORRELATED WITH THE CB LOCATION, ARE VARIES TO SIDEWALK. SEE GI3.6.

0.35
SUFFICIENT.

0.15
CRUSHED GRANULAR
5. CORE OPENING IN THE EXISTING CB WALL TO SUIT PVC PERFORATED
SUB-BASE PER
PIPE CONNECTION. PVC PIPE IS TO BE SAND BLASTED, COATED WITH SIDEWALK / BIKE LANE CONTRACT DOCUMENTS
ADHESIVE AND SAND (ROUGHEN UP) PRIOR TO THE INSERTION INTO
THE CORE. GROUT ANNULAR OPENING AROUND THE PIPE WITH GRANULAR BASE (COV #9)
NON-SHRINK GROUT. COMPACTED TO 95%
MPMDD. MIN 150mm VARIES
6. COV REPRESENTATIVE ( SEWER MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR) SHALL
AROUND BANDING
INSPECT AND APPROVE THE CONNECTION PRIOR TO THE PIPE BEING
BURIED. CONTACT SEWERS AT 604-871-6170 TO ARRANGE FOR NON-WOVEN DRAINAGE
INSPECTION. PROVIDE AT LEAST 48 HOURS NOTIFICATION. FABRIC PER CITY
STANDARD
SCARIFICATION ALONG C-C: NO UNDERDRAIN SECTION
TRENCH BOTTOM

ISSUE DATE: DECEMBER 2023

BIOSWALES
BIOSWALE - RECEIVING ROAD DRAINAGE APPROVED BY: N. MEAD-FOX
REV. REVISION DATE APPROVED