Recently in Infrastructure Category

Stormwater runoff in urban and suburban areas is one of the leading sources of water pollution in the United States. Runoff can cause increased flooding and erosion and more pollution to surface waters.

EPA is using sustainable techniques for reducing the effects of stormwater runoff at its facilities, such as installing a 3,000 square foot green roof as well as using rain gardens and cisterns to capture and reuse stormwater.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued guidance to help federal agencies minimize the impact of federal development projects on nearby water bodies. The guidance is being issued in response to a change in law and an Executive Order signed by President Obama, which calls upon all federal agencies to lead by example to address a wide range of environmental issues, including stormwater runoff.

Peter S. Silva, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Water said, "By taking these steps to create more sustainable facilities, federal agencies can lead by example in reducing impacts in the local watershed."

EPA worked closely with other federal agencies to develop this document, which provides background information, key definitions, case studies and guidance on meeting the new requirements of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.

Under the new requirements, federal agencies must minimize stormwater runoff from federal development projects to protect water resources.

Federal agencies can comply using a variety of stormwater management practices often referred to as "green infrastructure" or "low impact development" practices, including reducing impervious surfaces, using vegetative practices, using porous pavements and installing green roofs.

More information on the guidance: http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/lid/section438/

Did you know... 65% of new impervious cover can be classified as car habitat!

What is "car habitat"?  

"...the geometry of roads, parking lots, sidewalks, cul-de-sacs and other new development infrastructure."  That's car habitat.

Local development codes enforce how much impervious surface is allowed.  They take into consideration how water drains and is absorbed by local soil conditions, as well as the level of development already affecting the watershed.

Better site design can reduce flooding by improving absorption of heavy water deluges into nature's groundwater infrastructure.  Snowpack might be nature's LARGEST water reservoir, but groundwater is also a very valuable service provided by nature in lowlands. 

Better Site Design (BSD), can include greater use of

• swales
• relaxed lot geometry
• natural area conservation
• open-space subdivisions
• pervious paving
• and other site design techniques

Several dozen communities across the country have changed their local codes and ordinances to promote BSD through a roundtable process to gain consensus among development stakeholders.

Better Site Design Can Reduce Development Costs

The strength of the BSD approach is that numerous modeling studies have demonstrated it can reduce impervious cover, pollutants and development costs by as much as 10 to 40% at individual development sites.

The weakness of BSD is that it lacks a watershed context and therefore reductions in site IC may be not be enough to meet subwatershed objectives.

SOURCE:
Chesapeake Stormwater Network, CSN Technical Bulletin No. 3, "Implications of the Impervious Cover Model".

December 2, 2009 --  New home water heater efficiency standards proposed by the Obama Administration will save energy and money for U.S. households and reduce global warming and other harmful emissions; but they fall short of their potential according to a broad coalition of energy-efficiency, consumer and environmental organizations. 

"This proposal captures significant and cost-effective energy savings from conventional water heater technologies, but it does little to advance new technologies which can provide much larger energy and economic savings,"  according to Steven Nadel, Executive Director, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

The new standards will affect the nine million new residential water heaters sold every year, which account for an estimated 20 percent of the typical home's energy use. 

DOE's analysis shows that the proposed new standards can be met with modest changes such as adding more insulation to today's conventional tank style water heaters.

The technology is here...where's the will?

But by failing to require even a partial transition to next-generation technologies - condensing gas water heaters and electric heat pump water heaters - the proposed standards leave huge potential energy savings on the table.

"Big energy savings sometimes requires big changes in technology," said Andrew deLaski, Executive Director, Appliance Standards Awareness Project.  "We're disappointed that the Obama Administration has shied away from making even a modest first step to transition America to the most efficient types of water heaters."

Proposed Water Heater Standards

DOE estimates that the proposed standards would save 2.6 quads of energy over 30 years (for comparison, a quad is enough energy to meet the total needs of about 5 million typical U.S. households for one year). 

Over the same period, consumers would save about $15.6 billion and carbon dioxide emissions would be cut by 154 million metric tons. 

But a standard that required the more energy-efficient condensing gas and electric heat pump water heaters would increase savings more than 6X, to nearly 17 quads, save consumers $48 billion and reduce CO2 emissions by 965 million metric tons. 

But DOE concludes that such a shift, which would require complete retooling by the water heater industry and entail big increases in upfront costs for some consumers, would be too disruptive.  A middle ground standard would require the use of the newer, more efficient advanced technologies for only water heaters larger than 55 gallons, which represent 4 percent and 11 percent of the gas and electric water heater markets, respectively.

That middle ground standard would save 3.7 quads, save consumers $22 billion and reduce CO2 emissions by 217 million metric tons.     

"We agree that it's too early to mandate next generation technologies for the entire water heater market," said Nadel.

"But if DOE required this shift for the very biggest water heaters, the energy, economic, and CO2 savings would increase by about 40 percent compared to the department's proposal. That would also pave the way for a longer term transition to the best, advanced technologies, which is where the biggest savings can be found."

Next Generation: Condensing and heat pump technologies

Condensing and heat pump technologies are common in space heating but have only a toehold so far in the water heater market.

About one-third of U.S. furnace sales are of condensing products, and about 8 percent of U.S homes are warmed with heat pumps.

Major water heater companies are working to bring condensing and heat pump technologies to the water heater market.

"Consumers need to be able to buy the most efficient appliances that save them money over the long run," according to Mel Hall-Crawford, Energy Projects Director for the Consumer Federation of America.

Water heaters represent a big portion of the energy costs for a typical home and last between 10 and 15 years.

The energy consuming characteristics of buildings will take on greater importance in determining their market value in the years ahead. It's really important for the department to issue a standard that gives consumers as much savings as possible on this product that plays such a large part in determining household energy bills and has such a long life span.  The DOE needs to do better than the proposed rule."

"People don't usually think of the costs of taking a hot shower, but options already exist to save on energy and water," said Lane Burt, Manager of Building Energy Policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Unfortunately, this proposed standard fails to maximize consumer savings.

Water heating is responsible for a fifth of all household energy use

"The proposed water heater standards pass up the chance to move technology forward," said Tim Ballo, attorney with Earthjustice. "Water heating is responsible for a fifth of all household energy use, and there are technologies available today that are vastly more efficient than the levels DOE proposed. We're sure that DOE can do better, and we'll be urging the department to reconsider these standards."

"With President Obama about to go to Copenhagen, one of the best ways to show American leadership would be for his administration to embrace new, energy-saving technologies that will create jobs and reduce CO2 emissions," said Callahan. "The United States could be the international leader in advanced water heater technology, and improved standards can help foster that transition."

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing energy efficiency as a means of promoting economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. ACEEE was involved in the legislation establishing federal efficiency standards, and has been active in all rulemakings since then.    www.aceee.org.

The Appliance Standards Awareness Project is dedicated to increasing awareness of and support for cost-effective appliance and equipment efficiency standards.   See standardsASAP.org.

The Alliance to Save Energy is a coalition of prominent business, government, environmental and consumer leaders who promote the efficient and clean use of energy worldwide to benefit consumers, the environment, the economy and national security.   www.ase.org

The Consumer Federation of America is a nonprofit association of over 280 pro-consumer groups founded in 1968 to advance consumers' interests through research, advocacy and education.  www.cfa.org

Earthjustice is a non-profit public interest law firm dedicated to protecting the magnificent places, natural resources, and wildlife of this earth and to defending the right of all people to a healthy environment.   www.earthjustice.org

The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national, nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. www.nrdc.org

Wading through the sources of lake contamination

Contamination of urban lakes and streams by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is widespread and has been increasing over the last 40 years in the United States.

PAHs are Toxic to Fish Humans and Other Organisms

These PAHs can be toxic to bottom-dwelling organisms, can cause tumors in fish, and several are believed to cause cancer in humans. 

In this study, researchers examined five sources of PAHs in 40 urban lakes from across the United States, including coal-tar-based pavement sealcoat, coal combustion, oil combustion, vehicle emissions and wood combustion.

Sealcoat Contributes to PAH Contamination

Of the five sources studied, sealcoat was the strongest contributor to PAH contamination in lake sediment. This research can help those trying to reduce pollution levels in the urban environment by providing them with a better understanding of PAH sources. 

This study, "Sources of PAHs to urban lakes in the United States," was conducted by USGS at the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemist  

The Imperial Highway Sunken Median Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMP) project

By Carolyn Allen, Editor

I drive by the Imperial Highway project almost daily, and watched this biofiltration system being constructed. Cool! Here are more details about how it filters urban runoff from residential and industrial areas that has been draining into the Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It is one more way to protect the fragile habitat and wildlife ecosystem under stress in the Bay.

Sunken Median Stormwater Diversion

This urban street median stormwater project is located on Imperial Highway between Pershing Drive and Main Street in El Segundo, CA. It is in a highly traveled street that divides LAX Airport and the residential neighborhoods of El Segundo. It also leads directly to Santa Monica Bay and the Pacific Ocean...just down the street.

Los Angeles and El Segundo reduce pollutants to Santa Monica Bay with Biofiltration System.

Biofiltration System of Vegetated Swales and Trench

The stormwater runoff project installed a biofiltration system comprised of vegetated swales and an infiltration trench that will collect runoff from a 7.5-acre area and remove bacteria, oil, trash and suspended solids from stormwater that would otherwise be discharged to Santa Monica Bay. Shrubs and trees were also planted in the project area, and an automated irrigation system that uses recycled water was installed.

Septic tanks helped give birth to the city of Malibu just 18 years ago. Now, regional water officials will vote on whether to prohibit septic systems. Regulators blame septic tanks for poor water quality along the coast, at surf spots and in Malibu Lagoon, according to Brown and Baldwell's California Water News.

The Los Angeles Times reported on the controversial new policy and traced the history of water and sewer wars in this Pacific beach town.  In many ways, the septic tanks played a large role in Malibu becoming a city. It incorporated and formed its own government in 1991 to stave off Los Angeles County's efforts to install a sewer system in the area. Residents at the time feared sewers would unleash a wave of development that would turn Malibu into Miami Beach West.

But sewer has also become the undoing of the community.  Malibu septic tanks, leach pits and the ubiquitous stench known as the "Malibu smell" are not so elegant, but frequent topics. Officials often post signs on Surfrider Beach after rainstorms urging swimmers and surfers to stay away because of health dangers. Surfrider Beach often gets failing grades on Heal the Bay's annual beach water-quality report cards.

Joe Melchione, chairman of the Malibu Surfing Assn.'s environmental committee, spoke out against the beach contamination at a 10-hour meeting Thursday at the Metropolitan Water District headquarters. Another member of the surfing group exhibited the scar on his chest, where a pacemaker was implanted  because of the viral myocarditis he contracted after paddling through raw sewage at Surfrider Beach in the summer of 1997.

The Los Angeles Regional Water Quality Control Board agreed to ban septic systems in central and eastern Malibu, a move that would end years of fierce debate over the wastewater devices still commonly used in one of Southern California's most picturesque and exclusive coastal communities.

New septic systems will not be permitted in Malibu and owners of existing systems will have to halt wastewater discharges within a decade.

The shift to a sewer system comes at considerable expense. Residents in affected areas would be required to pay about $500 a month to cover the cost of hooking into a central sewage system, according to the city's projections. And businesses would face payments of up to $20,000 a month.

This community battle resulted in the city being sued both FOR and FOR NOT providing specific sewer solutions.  This battle is indicative of the battles to come as more communities grapple with water quality issues that have to be woven into complex community infrastructure and natural ecosystem challenges.

The United States uses less water today than it did 35 years ago, despite a 30 percent population increase.

Declines in water use are partly attributable to alternative cooling methods at power plants and more efficient irrigation systems. According to the latest USGS water use report ...

• Nearly half of all water used in the United States goes to cooling thermoelectric power plants
• 31 percent is used for irrigation.
• 11 percent of water is used for public supply
• 9 percent is used for industrial, livestock, aquaculture, mining and rural domestic uses.
  

But we also need to look at how much water is used ... and needed ... for habitat ecosystems, wildlife, fire retardant levels in forests, etc.  We can't forget that non-human water use must also be measured.

Water is undervalued in many parts of the country. In fact, about 30% of all water utilities operate at a loss or a deficit.

So where does all your money go? The money you pay toward your water bill is stretched many different ways by utilities.

Water utilities, like any business, need to pay for operating expenses such as electricity, treatment chemicals, maintenance, and employee wages. On average, about 70% of your water bill goes to your water utility's operating expenses.

As they work to collect sufficient revenue to ensure the availability of clean and safe water, municipalities and water managers try to keep their rates affordable. Even so, the cost of water and wastewater varies, and the factors that ultimately set the price differ from community to community.

Small Community Water Utilities

Many private water utilities serving smaller communities lack commercial and industrial customers that help keep costs to residents low. These utilities are sometimes forced to charge residents nearly double the national average to recoup operating expenses. In these communities, investing in water efficiency makes twice as much sense.

Improvement Project Costs

But that only makes up part of your water utility's financial needs. Many water utilities need money to pay for improvement projects to upgrade infrastructure or increase capacity--meaning the ability to provide water to an expanding number of customers--and they might also need to pay down debt just like the rest of us.

EPA studies estimate that updating aging water and wastewater infrastructure could cost more than $500 billion over the next two decades.

While many of the pipes that deliver water to American homes are relatively new, some pipes are more than 80 years old and well overdue for replacement. And this $500 billion does not include the funds that are needed to build new infrastructure to meet the demands of a growing population!

The good news is that there is something both utilities and consumers can do to delay these major investments and save money.

WaterSense Savings with Certified Products

WaterSense makes fiscal sense, both from a utility standpoint, and to consumers' wallets. Many water utilities are promoting WaterSense labeled products to help their customers save on water bills and to delay the utilities' need for expensive projects to increase capacity.

So if you're looking for new ways to pinch pennies as a household, consider the following.

The average household can reduce its water bills by as much as 30% by installing water-efficient plumbing fixtures such as WaterSense labeled toilets and faucets and ENERGY STAR qualified appliances.

Replacing older, inefficient toilets alone could save a family of four some $90 per year. These savings, coupled with potential rebates in your area, mean your bathroom makeover could pay for itself in no time--and pay the savings forward in your community for years to come.

Federal Agencies Release Draft Reports Required by Chesapeake Bay Executive Order
 
Federal agencies released the seven draft reports required by President Obama's executive order on the Chesapeake Bay , which contain a range of proposed strategies for accelerating cleanup of the nation's largest estuary and its vast watershed.
 
Focus is on increased accountability and performance

The draft reports collectively call for increased accountability and performance from pollution control, habitat protection and land conservation programs at all levels of government, including an expanded use of regulatory authorities to address pollution control and additional voluntary and market-based solutions - particularly when it comes to habitat protection and land conservation programs. Federal agencies are also proposing new ways to harness the latest innovations in science and technology. The proposed actions are in response to overwhelming scientific evidence that the health of the Chesapeake Bay remains exceptionally poor, despite the concerted restoration efforts of the past 25 years. 
 
"We need bold new leadership, collective accountability by all contributors to the bay's problems, and dramatic changes in policies using all the tools at hand if we are to fulfill President Obama's goal for clean water throughout the region. These reports bring us a step closer to achieving the vision we all share for the future of the Chesapeake Bay ," said U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, chairperson of the Federal Leadership Committee and the federal representative to the Chesapeake Executive Council. 
 
The draft reports are the first step in the creation of a new strategy for restoring and protecting the Chesapeake Bay and waterways in the region, as defined by the executive order.

The reports include a variety of strategies and options for addressing issues such as

• water quality,
• public access,
• landscape conservation,
• climate change,
• scientific monitoring and
• protection of living resources

The draft reports were also submitted to the Federal Leadership Committee that is coordinating work on the executive order. The draft reports are available at http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net .

Executive Order 13508 on Chesapeake Bay Restoration and Protection
 
On May 12, 2009 President Obama issued Executive Order 13508 on Chesapeake Bay Restoration and Protection, the first-ever presidential directive on the bay and the first environmental executive order by President Obama.

Multidisciplinary Federal Leadership Committee

The order established a Federal Leadership Committee, chaired by EPA, and with senior representatives from the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Homeland Security, Interior and Transportation.
 
Over 120 days, 10 federal agencies collaborated to develop the draft reports. The recommendations in the reports were shaped by consultations with the six states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and the District of Columbia , as well as suggestions from stakeholders and the public. Successful restoration of the Chesapeake Bay depends on the involvement of federal, state and local governments; the private sector; nonprofit organizations; and the watershed's 17 million residents. The draft reports were released to engage the public in the process outlined in the executive order.
 
The draft report on water quality includes some of the more significant potential changes to existing programs.  

In this report, EPA proposes to develop new regulations for the Chesapeake Bay to significantly reduce runoff pollution from urban, suburban and agricultural sources.
 
The report also relays EPA's intention to hold the states in the watershed more accountable for controlling pollution, through increased oversight, enforcement activities and new policies.

Urban and suburban runoff pollution is the fastest growing source of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay , while agricultural runoff is the largest.

 
The Federal Leadership Committee will evaluate the proposals in the draft reports and consult with bay jurisdictions to refine the recommendations for meeting key challenges to the Chesapeake Bay 's health.   However, the agencies will be moving forward in a number of areas before the strategy becomes final.
 
"We have an urgent obligation to citizens of today and generations of tomorrow to restore the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed, and this executive order puts new weight behind our work," Jackson said. "We're moving quickly and transparently on a comprehensive strategy that will get real results for the bay." 
 
More information on the executive order: http://executiveorder.chesapeakebay.net

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed that General Petroleum Corporation - a marine distributor of Chevron and Texaco products - pay a penalty of $74,473 for allegedly failing to obtain a storm water permit for its facility at the Port of Los Angeles.

Between October 1, 2004 and December 4, 2007, the General Petroleum Corporation discharged pollutants in storm water at its petroleum bulk storage facility without first obtaining a storm water permit, a violation of the Clean Water Act and California's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit requirements.

"Facilities such as these industries can control storm water pollution by following good housekeeping and continued maintenance," said Alexis Strauss, Water Division director for the EPA's Pacific Southwest region. "Controlling storm water pollution is essential to the ongoing improvement of Southern California water quality."

Polluted runoff is a major cause of water pollution that can carry pollutants, such as metals, oil and grease, acidic wastewater, bacteria, trash, and other toxic pollutants, from industrial sources into nearby water sources. The EPA requires industrial facilities to prevent water pollution by complying with federal and state water pollution requirements.

Today's action is part of a larger enforcement initiative focusing on ports to ensure the Port, as well as its tenants, comply with storm water requirements. The U.S. EPA and the Los Angeles Regional Quality Control Board conducted a storm water audit of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach in May 2007, and issued 20 administrative orders to the Ports' tenants in November 2007, including General Petroleum Corporation.

The proposed settlement is subject to a 30-day public comment period. For information on today's action or to comment, go to:

http: //www.epa.gov/region09/enforcement/pubnotices/pubnotice-gen-petrol.html