Central New York Stormwater Coalition Case Analysis

The general population of the State of Georgia are reliant upon the waterways, streams, lakes, and subsurface waters for open and private water supply, and agrarian, modern, and recreational employments. The Georgia Water Quality Control Act (WQCA) (O.C.G.A. § 12-5-2) represents the effects on the water amount and quality inside the State of Georgia. The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is charged to build up and keep up the quality and amount of Georgia's water assets (O.C.G.A § 12-5-21(b)). It is Georgia's arrangement that water assets be used judiciously for the most extreme advantage of the general population, keeping in mind the end goal to reestablish and keep up a sensible level of

Metro Atlanta is on a collision course with reality – and the shock of this collision will have profound political and economic implications for future growth throughout the Southeast. The core problem is that Atlanta’s runaway growth will soon outstrip the available water supply (Corps, 1998). And if Atlanta continues to increase its water consumption until the maximum limits are reached, the effects on downstream users will become catastrophic, both economically and environmentally.

In 2013, Anacostia Riverkeeper, an organization devoted to restoring the Anacostia River, challenged a permit issued in 2010 by the Maryland Department of Environment (MDE). The MDE issued a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer (MS4) permit to Montgomery County, Maryland (Edwards, 2015). MS4 systems fall under the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations, which require maximum controlled pollution in storm water (Maryland Department of the Environment, 2015). The MS4 permit required the county to administer best management practices

The runoff carries pollutants such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediments into the Bay. In urban areas the standard city block creates five times more runoff than a forested area. About 30% of runoff in an urban area is evaporated, 55% stays runoff, and the other 15% soaks into the land with a variation of deep and shallow infiltration. About 40% of runoff in a forest evaporates, 10% stays runoff, and the extra 50% seeps into the ground with a variation of deep and shallow infiltration. The runoff is actually the fastest growing source of pollution for the Chesapeake

In Jan. 2011, the EPA decided to veto the dumping of waste from the Spruce No. 1 Mine. But the agency’s efforts have so far been rebuffed by the courts as an overreach: Under the weird legal regime that governs mining, it’s the Army Corps of Engineers, not the EPA, which has the ultimate say-so over those permits. In 2012, the D.C. district court ruled that EPA lacked authority to veto the permit after the Corps had issued it. However, in fact EPA's decision is based on evidence from scientific research on serious environmental harm from mining. In May 2013, a coalition of Appalachian and environmental groups petitioned the EPA to set a numeric water quality standard under the Clean Water Act to protect streams from pollution caused by mountaintop removal mining . They claimed that “State politics and industry pressure have so far failed to end this pollution without such a standard and more and more streams and communities who rely on those waters are left vulnerable. We need EPA to act now.” The EPA’s authority over the Clean Water Act in respect to Spruce Mine No. 1 was finally affirmed by the Supreme Court in March 2014.

Smart planning and using green technologies can reduce the impact that urbanization and growing populations puts on the Bay. Pervious paving surfaces reduce the amount of runoff going into the Bay. There are many benefits to using pervious concrete, “these benefits are achieved with the use of an innovative design. Pervious pavement, also referred to as porous or permeable pavement, is actually a system consisting of an open-graded surface layer of concrete, asphalt, or pavers, typically placed over an open-graded aggregate base layer. The pavement structure has a large percentage of void spaces allowing water to permeate through the surface and base at a rate comparable to that of a grass lawn” (Broviak). Strict stormwater control measures have recently been passed in states surrounding the Chesapeake’s watershed, including Maryland, and many require a certain amount of green space or use of green technologies in construction. In addition to the growing use of pervious pavement techniques, other types of stormwater management techniques are gaining popularity. In a thesis paper from University of Maryland, Wilson discusses alternative ways to engineer for the Bay; “By using technologies such as cisterns, green roofs, and constructed wetlands, the built environment can be designed to decrease our need for expensive water purifying infrastructure and preserve the health of fragile estuary ecosystems such as the Chesapeake Bay.” Rain gardens are a viable alternative to storm drains to deal with runoff from impervious areas. A rain garden captures water that would usually run into a storm drain and eventually be discharged into a river and allows it to infiltrate into the ground and for evapotranspiration to occur. In a study done to evaluate how effective rain gardens are at capturing and reducing runoff results were

The primary goals and objectives of the City’s Stormwater Utility are to proactively maintain the existing stormwater infrastructure and identify the City’s future stormwater system needs and improvements that protect its natural resources, enhances the City’s aesthetics, ensures public safety and improves the quality of life for all who live in and visit our city. This can only be accomplished through partnerships with all city departments, regulatory agencies, developers and the public.

It all started when I worked with the Anacostia Watershed Society over the summer. While I was working here, not only did I get the opportunity to help restore and maintain the river and its wetlands, but I also got the chance to learn about stormwater management and littering. From nine in the morning until twelve in the afternoon, I was outside in the hot sun weeding, watering and planting native plants and trees around the river. After lunch, my supervisor would educate me about the importance of our jobs. I learned that the river is contaminated because of the stormwater

Also, state laws guide Alexandria’s environmental policies and programs. For example, the federal Clean Water Act administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) establishes storm water infrastructure requirements and deadlines. It is the responsibility of the City of Alexandria to comply and work with the state or federal agencies to create or administer environmental programs and policies. The city has flexibility to administer its own programs and policies, but Alexandria must also work with the “Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG), and actively participate in several environmental initiatives.” The MWCOG works to resolve regional problems such as

Further population increase and the expansion of New York City to include five boroughs amplified the need for more clean water circulation. In order to find new water sources the Board of Water Supply built facilities in four watersheds that is now known as the Catskill System (which includes the Ashokan Reservoir and Catskill Aqueduct). The Delaware System was fully constructed in 1944 which receives water from the Delaware River tributary.

Often, toxic substances are being drained into the air, waterways, and undergrounds wells. According to the report by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), over 60 million pounds of deadly chemicals are produced by industries in Florida. Notably, Florida’s water has been suffering mercury contamination until the state’s department of migration issues a circular regularly for regulations of eating freshwater fish in the region (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). In fact, such metals emanate from coal combustion’s emissions which run into water bodies. Not to mention, pesticides and herbicides utilized by government and homeowners pollute the environment (Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission). Indeed, all chemicals released into the atmosphere find themselves in rivers.

Currently, the way that we use the stormwater runoff is one of the most important issues that was raised, and that was wanting to be discussed. However, green infrastructure is a entire field of thinking for the conveyance of stormwater, and there are many different types of green infrastructure. Due to the variety of different green infrastructure types, the cost of the instastructure will vary, especially when comparing them to the beginning of construction than what typical grey stormwater management costs The main cost savings of green infrastructure are the long term benefits, from the reduction of flooding, and pollution in the water table, to the beautification or our communities. This has been shown in many different cities and urban landscapes, in New York City they calculated that the cost per gallon of storm sewer reduction for the Grey infrastructure was more expensive costing $0.62 per gallon while it only costed. $0.45 per gallon for Green infrastructure. This means that cities are going to be able to save money while reducing the amount of stormwater that enters the storm sewers.

A survey was also conducted as part of the case study on Georges River, by asking stakeholders’ water-use habits, views on the issues surrounding stormwater pollution and catchment management issues. A number of questions were asked to explore the importance of engaging stakeholders in the water management improvements. This survey had increased local residents' awareness and have encouraged them to get involved in protecting and caring for the Georges River. The community survey highlighted a lack of concern about the quality of your water and knowledge of actions to conserve water. One survey respondent significantly stated “the quality and quantity of water is one of the utmost crucial issues facing us therefore it will need a resolute effort by individuals, groups and governments to be prosperous.”

To reduce the impacts of sea level rise on storm water drainage systems, pump stations can be used to more effectively collect storm water runoff and direct it to the local waters. Enhancing storm water pumping capacity reduces the likelihood of sewage backup due to sea level rise and flooding. In addition, use of green infrastructure such as bioswales and rain gardens can reduce the impacts of sea level rise on stormwater drainage systems. Bioswales are storm water runoff conveyance systems that can absorb storm water runoff due to heavy rain. Bioswales filter the stormwater and store the water, and hence, reduce the pressure on sewage systems during heavy rainfalls and flooding. Rain gardens can be used as effective landscape elements to reduce storm water runoff. When implemented as landscape components of different city facilities and buildings, rain gardens can effectively reduce stormwater runoff and reduce the pressure on drainage systems under sea level

The largest source of contamination is runoff from land. Toxic runoff can be sewage, rainwater flowing over exposed topsoil, flooding or agricultural runoff. Rain can cause runoff of chemicals or waste that can seep into creeks, rivers and other waterways that lead to the ocean. Some of the chemicals found could be antibiotics or waste from animals, pesticides from crops or from pollutants, originating in the air, which have settled on land and washed away. Unless a solution to pollution runoff is found, this type of contamination will continue indefinitely and contribute to the deterioration of the ecosystem in the