Building a Smart, Clean, Green Pittsburgh That Works for the 21 st Century Pittsburgh City Council Hearing On Stormwater Date: July 13, 2010 Mr. Paul Schwartz DC Green Building Advisory Council National Policy Coordinator Clean Water Action/Clean Water Fund

Original Green Infrastructure

The Traditional Grey Infrastructure Paradigm The traditional model of centralized, big-pipe infrastructure relies on an industrial model of specialization and economies of scale This approach is wasteful, environmentally disruptive, and ultimately not sustainable as populations increase and more and more land is developed over time Climate change-related extremes will place even greater stresses

Pittsburghs Water Cycle is Broken Climate Change = > Floods & Drought Old water pipes = > SSOs and CSOs Lack of integrated plan for water/energy/climate = > $ Billions > $ Billions wasted solving wrong problems > H 2 O Quality & Quantity Issues, Economic & Health Losses > H 2 O Quality & Quantity Issues, Economic & Health Losses Whitaker Run, August 1959

A Smart, Clean, Green Water Infrastructure Paradigm Sustainable water systems in the future will use, treat, store, and reuse water efficiently at a small scale and will blend designs into restorative water hydrologies. -- Baltimore Charter for Sustainable Water Systems (2007)

The new paradigm that works with and mimics nature Nature: Recycles everything Banks on diversity Rewards cooperation Creates beauty and abundance and no waste Uses only the energy it needs Rebuilds from disturbances Can collapse from extreme stress Portland streetscape. Photo courtesy of Martina Keefe

The quintessential dual flush toilet – Whats in Your Tank? American Standard If given the choice would you flush your toilet with bottled water? So why is this our current standard? Why do we continue the pollute – dilute treadmill? Copyright Ed Clerico, 2007

Distributed Urban Water Reuse Battery Park City – New York

The Solaire – Opened Residential Units 293 Residential Units 25,000 GPD WW treatment plant 25,000 GPD WW treatment plant LEED TM Gold Certification LEED TM Gold Certification 48% reduction in water use 48% reduction in water use 56% reduction in wastewater discharge 56% reduction in wastewater discharge 30 systems predate The Solaire beginning in 1987 – up to 95% reuse in commercial applications

Integrated Water Resource Management

Potable Water Wastewater Transfer to treatment Membrane Bio Reactor UV/Ozone Disinfection Reuse Water Reservoir Membrane Backwash To Irrigation Distributed Water Reuse System Schematic Aerobic Membrane Filters Flush Water Cooling Tower Anoxic Transfer to treatment Stormwater Feed Tank Wastewater Feed Tank Laundry Water Cooling Water Cooling Wastewater Reuse Water Stormwater overflow Highly variable 1a 1b Wastewater and stormwater collected 2 Screening Biological treatment Final polishing and disinfection Storage for nonpotable reuse Discharge Sewers 2

Sustainable Integrated Infrastructure Neighborhood Design Plan water reuses and components at outset Integrate Landscape, MEP, Civil, Architectural, Water & Sanitary Incorporate into lowest value space inside or outside building

500,000 GPD Water Reuse Economics NYC rates increased 65% in four years and are projected to increase 15% per year for the next four years

Benefits of Distributed Water Reuse Significant (50%-95%) reduction in demand on water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure and resources Lower capital and operating costs Eliminate problems with long distribution and collection pipelines – No infiltration/exfiltration Helps to mitigate Combined Sewer Overflow and Sanitary Sewer Overflow Removes nutrients thereby providing better environmental protection

High Point, Seattle: Neighborhood Level Hope VI Project: 120 acres of urban infill 1,600 housing units Neighborhood center, library & mixed used Density ranges: 16 units/acre – 25 units/acre 65% reduction of stormwater into Longfellow Creek Integrated natural drainage system (NDS) distributed over 34 blocks Each block uses site-specific drainage strategies Source: USEPA Watershed Academy Webcast, Smart Growth and Green Infrastructure (11/28/07)

High Point, Seattle Source: USEPA Watershed Academy Webcast, Smart Growth and Green Infrastructure (11/28/07)

Economic Benefits: Homeowner Savings oReduced maintenance costs oIncreased property value oEnhanced aesthetics oGreater sense of community oLowered combined water bills

Health and Safety Benefits Studies show green infrastructure: Hastens surgery recovery, decreases sick rates, reduces stress Enhances cognitive functioning: school performance, worker productivity, creativity Open space, walkable neighborhoods encourage physical activity, increasing fitness and weight loss

Economic Benefits: Job Creation Creates new jobs for architects, designers, researchers, engineers, construction workers, maintenance workers, landscapers, nurseries, etc. Approximately 5 jobs would be created for every 100,0000 square feet of green roof installed in D.C. 1,700 jobs per year for ten years just to install green roofs in D.C. TreePeople projects creation of 50,000 new jobs from LAs citywide green infrastructure initiative

Water Resource Management as a Component of Sustainability Planning and Implementation Ecology Economy Social Equity Status Quo - meet regulation Green – exceed regulation Sustainable – address future needs Regenerative – restore function

Water Stuff Food Wastewater Biosolids Solid Waste Segregated Systems Approach Is Not Sustainable Community Annie Leonard

Water Stuff Food Wastewater Biosolids Solid Waste Segregated Dysfunctional Segregated Systems Community Energy Linear Segmented Approach : Adds energy at each step Depletes resources on supply side Contaminates environment on disposal side Low efficiency high impact Energy

Water Stuff Food WasteW BioSolids Solid Waste Functional Systems Integration to Achieve Higher Sustainability Levels Community Energy Integrated Systems Approach – Reduce & Reuse: Add less energy at each step and extract energy post consumer use Use less natural resources on production side Release less contaminants to environment on post consumer side Energy Nonpotable Water Reuse Natural Resource Recycling Nutrient Recycling Energy

Water Stuff Food WasteW BioSolids Solid Waste Functional Systems Integration to Achieve Higher Sustainability Levels Community Energy Integrated Systems: Combine food and green waste with wastewater Anaerobic treatment to extract energy Reuse water Capture heat energy in water Employ combined heat and power Energy Nonpotable Water Reuse Natural Resource Recycling Nutrient Recycling Energy Natural Resource Recycling Nutrient Recycling

The Need for Integrated Management