8/17/2010 SEWER COMMISSION Minutes

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�� IE�VPOI�I f structure is not sustainable over the because they understand that each to get on the path toward sustainable long term.These municipal systems gallon of fresh water they don't need water infrastructure?For a start,we consume too much water,disrupt too to pipe in and each gallon of wastewa- need to restore research funding so many ecosystems,and use too much ter and stormwater they don't have that we're leading the development of energyto move water and wastewater to e out reduces pressure on the new technologies and capturing P�P P � p g jobs around.Growing populations,increas- city's aging underground water and and profits in the global marketplace. ing land development,and climate sewer systems. We should provide tax incentives that change will make these problems It's nice to see these scattered mod- encourage builders,architects,and much worse. els in the United States,but other coun- homeowners to adopt and implement Next-generation designs come tries'investments in next-generation these systems.We.need to rewrite fed- from a different engineering model: approaches dwarf ours.Singapore and eral legislation so that the best—not Use,treat,store,and reuse water ef- Abu Dhabi,as well as Shanghai,China, the most conventional—technologies ficiently on a smaller scale,and blend are devoting staggering amounts to can be used in our cities and towns. these designs into restorative water research and demonstration projects As for the"sunk"costs of our aging hydrologies.Some homeowners are for a sustainable water infrastructure, infrastructure?We need to think seri- already using water-efficient wash- prompting U.S.companies and engi- ously about how to shift our national ing machines and recycling sink and neering firms to look abroad for the big investments toward the future.It is shower water to irrigate lawns.Rain next-generation markets. important to keep old pipes working gardens and green roofs can collect Part of our problem is a legacy well enough at critical points to pro- stormwater and prevent flooding and of well-intentioned rules and regula- tect public health.But instead of using sewer overflows.A new idea is to tions,such as the Clean Water Act, federal funds to repair and replace recapture energy and nutrients from which continue to support the use of these pipes and treatment plants in wastewater. wasteful and disruptive technology, the old way,it may be wiser to pivot In-Seattle, Philadelphia,-and - Municipal utilities must comply with federal investments into the new. Chicago,officials are designing water national permit requirements for old - services in ways that also improve best practices that are costly and .Valerie L Nelson is director of the 4, air quality,restore urban streams, leave little room for creativity. Coalition for Alternative Wastewater i and replace pavement with parks What will it take for our country Treatment(Gloucester,Mass.). and urban gardens. Groups in Georgia and California are lear❑ r _ rz ing that more efficient next-generation sys- temsthat reuse water and replenish aqui- fers are critical for addressing deepening drought conditions. New subdivisions now can be built that need virtually no imported - water. New York City's Battery Park City has several new high-rises that treat stormwater runoff and wastewa- ter and recycle it back into landscaping,cool- ing towers,and toilet flushing.Officials are offering incentives for such approaches Construction of a London sewer in 1862.The old ways of managing wastewater may not be the most sustainable. 4D WE&T•WWW.WEF.ORG[MAGAZINE