Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex
Stormwater Capture and Reuse
Project Location - 2300 North Cameron Street, City of Harrisburg.
Project Overview - The Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex features more than 200 shows and events each year utilizing nearly one million square feet of indoor floor space. The Complex, which is one of the premier event locations in Pennsylvania, covers 24 acres. A majority of these acres are paved, creating a surface which is impervious to rainfall. Large
amounts of impervious cover, a common problem in urban areas, can lead to significant increases in pollutant runoff and streambank erosion, as well as a loss of groundwater recharge.

 

Existing Conditions - The picture at the left shows 1 of 6 exposition halls in the Farm Show Complex. There are more than 500,000 square feet of space in the complex, and it takes 4 million gallons of water/year to wash the indoor floor space. The Complex has 20 acres of rooftop and an additional 60 acres of parking lot.


Dealing with stormwater on a largely impervious area is a challenge for many urban areas. This project aims at developing an economic and manageable option for facilities with a large amount of impervious area, including a rooftop capture and reuse system.
Project Activities - 1,000 square feet of roof will collect approximately 600 gallons of rainwater from each inch of rainfall. Over 1 year, 20 acres of rooftop could provide over 18 million gallons of water. This water can be used to offset the substantial amount of water needed to wash the complex’s numerous facilities.
Recent Activities - SRBC recently completed a bid process
for a rainwater recapture and reuse system. For more information
please see here.
Roof gutters that could be used for a stormwater capture and reuse system