Green Infrastructure: It’s Place in the New Paradigm for...
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Green Infrastructure: It’s Place in the New Paradigm for Water Trevor Clements, Water Resources Director Research Triangle Park, North Carolina USA
Transcript of Green Infrastructure: It’s Place in the New Paradigm for...
Green Infrastructure: It’s Place in the New Paradigm
for Water
Trevor Clements, Water Resources Director Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
USA
Importance of Water: Life Giving
Humanity
● Water & sanitation for PEOPLE
● Rainfall & irrigation for FOOD
● Water for industry, energy, transport….
Ecosystems
Source: United States Geological Survey
http://water.usgs.gov
Water: the leading “definer” of future civilization
< 1% of the world's fresh water is accessible for direct human uses.
40% increase in human water demand worldwide predicted from 2010 to 2030
Current US Water
Mgmt Paradigm
Highly specialized
Centralized
Segregated
Linear
Extractive
Inflexible
Disconnected
New Paradigm
Needed Features
Multifunctional
Decentralized
Integrated
Systemic
Restorative
Adaptive
Connected
USA Witnessing a Transition in Water Mgmt
VS
What’s Wrong? Why is a New Paradigm Needed?
Water Quality Impairment is Increasing Despite >40 years under the Clean Water Act
● > 45 Percent of US waters are impaired (USEPA, current)
– 41,512 impaired waters
– 71,836 causes of impairment
What’s Wrong? Why is a New Paradigm Needed?
Aging Water Infrastructure
● Gap is growing quickly (>$500B for drinking water and clean water facilities in next 25 yrs, USEPA)
DW Only
Source:
ASCE
What’s Wrong? Why is a New Paradigm Needed?
Climate change increasing risk of water shortages and extreme weather events
Source: NRDC
report written by
Tetra Tech, 2010
Hurricane Sandy –
Source: NASA Hurricane Sandy –
Hoboken NJ
Source: Charles Sykes/AP
What’s Wrong? Why is a New Paradigm Needed?
Increasing political conflict disconnecting policy and science
Managing Regulatory
Water Programs in Silos
Can Incite Conflict –
Perceived Threat to
Economy and Way of Life
Transition from “Prescription” to “Performance-based”
Silo’d regulatory programs take rule-based prescriptive approach
● Linear vs. systemic
Cautious/inflexible approach promotes status quo rather than problem solving
● Definition of Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein
Strong and Prosperous Economy
High Quality of Life
Healthy Environment
Communities Want a Triple Bottom Line
Business and Civic Leaders Must Support
Messages for Change are Growing Louder…
Risky Business Report: Gov’t & Business Sector
● Impacts include
– Damages (prop./infra.)
– Public health
– Labor productivity
– Ag production
– Energy demand
● Cost of inaction are already in the billions and impossible to ignore
Farmer’s Insurance lawsuit for cities failure to prepare
Enabling a TBL approach
Practically speaking, requires…
● Strong backing of the business community
● Good governance
Functionally, requires…
● Institutional capacity
– Ability to administer and support implementation
● Incentives
– Financial, social, regulatory
Framework for Sustainable Water Infrastructure
EPRI/WERF/EPA sponsored research with volunteer communities to further define New Water Paradigm
The Key = Refined Management Principles
● Value the resource
● Aspire to higher objectives (that spawn better outcomes)
● Recognize true costs & maximize benefits
● Choose smart, clean & green
● Build intellectual capital
The Key = Refined Management Principles
● Integrate water management (“One Water”)
● Share responsibilities & risks
“Address scarcity
through alternative
sources of supply”
“Close the loop on
resource cycles”
Broader Spectrum
of Technologies:
mimic nature,
emerging,
distributed
The Key = Refined Management Principles
● Consider context at multiple scales
● Adapt & evolve
“Integrate land &
water management”
“Achieve multiple
watershed benefits”
Vision for Largest U.S. City
The Role of Green Infrastructure
Values hydrologic cycle
Reflects multiple objectives
Part of asset mgmt solution
Smart, clean and green
Integrated water approach
Effective at multiple scales
Adaptable
U.S. Examples – Urban: Battery Park (Site Scale) NYC
Decentralized reuse in highly urbanized area
LEED Platinum
Green roof filters and captures stormwater
Wastewater and stormwater treated for reuse
● Toilet flushing
● Cooling tower supply
● Irrigation of park
48% reduction in potable water consumption
56% reduction in wastewater discharge
Reference – Battery Park City Authority Manhattan Borough, NYC, The Solaire – Alliance Environmental, LLC
U.S. Examples – Urban: Green Streetscapes (Neighborhood Scale)
U.S. Examples – Urban Agriculture
U.S. Examples – Suburban LID with Engineered BMPs (Neighborhood Scale)
Raingardens
Grass swales
On-lot retention
Rainbarrels
Narrow sidewalks
Narrow streets
...
Innovation Early Adoption Majority
Innovation Adoption Lifecycle Applies to GI
Green Industry Practitioner Roles
Support Outreach and Education
● Moving from early adoption to majority use requires helping communities understand the TBL-benefits
Work Collaboratively
● Community and systems perspective requires multi-disciplinary approach
Early Lesson Learned: Facilitating the Transition
Take Advantage of Public Awareness Changes
● Example - Disaster Recovery Resiliency Planning
– Hurricanes, Floods, Droughts
– Vulnerability Assessment & Risk Reduction
● Green Branding
– Green Infrastructure/Low Impact Development
Bottom Line for GI
GI integral to making our communities sustainable & resilient
We are still in the early stages of adoption future is bright for those in the business of GI
Increasing public awareness is critical (reconnecting to value of water and the water cycle)
Integrated, multi-disciplinary approaches are required
Contact Information
Email: [email protected]
Direct: (919) 485 – 2058
1 Park Drive – Suite 200
RTP, NC 27709
