"Environmentally Speaking" - A Gannett Fleming E-newsletter

 

 

 

>A Change Underway

>Municipality Agenda

>Runoff Impacts

>Where to Begin?

 

 

Wet Weather Issues:
A Complicated Environmental Challenge

As pollution from wastewater treatment plants has been reduced, it has become clear that further cleanup can be achieved only if we control pollution from urban system wet weather discharges.

 

Feature Solution:

 

Urban Wet Weather

  • Watershed management*

  • Water quality monitoring

  • Wastewater reuse

  • Passive wetland treatment

*Click here for more  on our storm water phase II watershed approach.

^back to top^

 

 

U.S. Wet Weather/Storm Water/Watershed Experts

Colorado

Maryland

Pennsylvania

Wisconsin

^back to top^

 

 

 

 

Notes:

* This site is best viewed in IE or Netscape 5.0 or higher for PCs at 800x600 resolution.

*Click here for site disclaimer.

How do I subscribe or unsubscribe?

To start receiving your FREE subscription to "Environmentally Speaking", please send an e-mail to environmental@gfnet.com and include your name, address and telephone number in the body of your message.  Your information will remain STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL.

To stop receiving "Environmentally Speaking", just send an e-mail to the same address with "UNSUBSCRIBE" in the subject field of your message.

  

A Change Is Underway

Reducing the environmental impacts to streams from discharges from wastewater treatment plants and industry has been difficult enough.   But reducing the impacts from urban wet weather sources (combined sewer overflows, sanitary sewer overflows and storm sewer discharge point and non-point sources)  will be even more difficult and more costly.    Like it or not, new programs and regulations are being implemented to make it happen.

Combined Sewer System Issues

Storm water, runoff and wastewater are connected issues for municipalities with combined sewer systems.  Combined sewer overflow (CSO) communities are regulated under the Clean Water Act as amended by the Wet Weather Quality Act of 2000.  By now, CSO communities are on their way to achieving compliance (see previous issues of this eNewsletter).  

Perhaps the most noteworthy project to control stormwater/overflows is Chicago’s Tunnel and Reservoir Plan; which was completed at a cost of almost $1 billion.  Now, increased emphasis is being placed on minimizing impacts of storm water runoff, separate from wastewater issues (click here for more on a recent video/webcast related to storm water management).

Runoff Impacts

The impacts of runoff are more far-reaching and complex than one would think.  Some impacts, like erosion and sedimentation, are obvious.  But others are not.  For example, there is increased interest in understanding and mitigating thermal warming of streams by heated runoff in summer months.  

Runoff from highly impervious urban areas can be significantly elevated in temperature, one of the key environmental factors.  Other runoff pollutants include nutrients, sediments, bacteria and pathogens, and biological and chemical oxygen demand.   

The Water Environmental Research Foundation (WERF), among other organizations, is researching this and other wet weather issues, to provide further guidance. 

Where To Begin?

Dealing with wet weather pollution can seem mind-boggling.  However, with education and proper planning, it can be done.  

Use the resources available through WERF, your local DEP and similar organizations.  Also, seek a solution which enables you to solve specific wet weather challenges, while understanding the big picture.  Lastly, consider a comprehensive ecosystem management and restoration approach when formulating your plan of attack (click here for more specific suggestions).

For more information on this dynamic issue, click here to contact your nearest wet weather expert.