With great work
over the last 40 years addressing industrial and municipal wastewater
discharges, stormwater runoff is now the greatest threat to the health and
safety of our nation’s waters. According to NOAA, 80% of water pollution comes
from polluted stormwater runoff and these pollution sources are pressuring
traditional clean water utilities to increase watershed restoration efforts.
However, traditional clean water projects will not mitigate system-wide inputs
of pollutants and may not be the most cost-effective way to reach restoration
goals. In a recent article I wrote for Public Works magazine, I discuss the
challenges of addressing clean water restoration through conventional public works organizations, technology and public engagement.
In short, the restoration
of water resources, which is ultimately the focus of the Clean Water Act, will
require changes to the way we deliver “public works”. An integrated approach to addressing
wastewater and stormwater pollution inputs will be necessary and will be the
only way to restore water resources, but it will also require a shift in how
municipalities have traditionally been organized to deliver these services, how
they utilize technology and how they work with external stakeholders. Below, I outline some of the trends
towards a public works of the future, but you can learn more about how it has
worked in context through my full article here.
How to Move Towards a Utility of the
Future
A number of
organizations such as the Water Environment Federation (WEF), the National
Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the Water Environment Research
Foundation (WERF) American Water Works Association (AWWA), and the American
Public Works Association (APWA) are working to define a vision of what the
clean water utility of the future should look like.
The 2015 Annual Report of the Utility of the Future (UOTF)—the product of a collaboration
between NACWA, WEF, WERF, and WateReuse—makes a key point—in order to make the
transition to a UOTF, clean water utilities require an "innovation
ecosystem" comprised of technology developers, consulting engineers and
scientists, government, the finance community, and a wide range of professional
organizations to innovate across the clean water profession.
This
“innovation ecosystem” is essentially a support network for utility staff who
are going to be required to implement unfamiliar projects.
A Few Specific First Steps
Consolidate
Your Team. Many public
agencies scatter water resources skills throughout their organization, but
several organizational assessments we’ve conducted in New England cities have recommended
creating an integrated Water Resources division which can greatly improve the
efficiency of delivery of clean water services. Aligning asset managers,
compliance managers, and maintenance staff under a single division focused on
clean water infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions can result in
efficiencies and best leverage skill sets.
Arm Yourself
with Technology. The strategic
use of technology is a critical step in integrated and efficient water
resources protection and restoration. The relatively recent advent of ESRI’s
ArcGIS Online functionality and improved web mapping services allow for this
shared visualization of geographic data, field data collection, restoration
activities, and identification of pollution sources in near real-time. Making
best use of the available technologies will be essential to our ability to
manage diverse programs and compliance obligations.
Make Your
Message Personal. Public buy-in
is necessary in order to sustain an integrated water resources
restoration effort, so communication and outreach efforts are critical. Citizen rate
payers care about clean water and how it is being protected, but are confused
by the nuances of underground infrastructure, siloed regulatory programs, and
the acronym vocabulary of the clean water profession. We have found through
public opinion surveys that there is no reason for the public to understand
everything about how sewer and stormwater systems work. Keep your message
simple: “we are working for clean water” messaging with a focus on what we do with your money.
While the
future of clean water will continue to be challenged by aging infrastructure,
increased compliance obligations, and limited funding, a few small steps toward
organizational efficiency, technology utilization, and messaging to the public
will support the continued and necessary development of the public works of the
future. For more information, contact me at