Water Resources Best Management Practices

conservation submeters water projects storm water waterways watershed infrastructure

Water and Energy Projects are catalysts in generating new employment opportunities and entrepreneurial efforts in communities that are in the forefront of managing watershed and water resources issues in urban and rural settings.

Managing Water Resources

Communities are confronting new and complex challenges to achieve safe and affordable water supplies, collect and treat waste water and storm water, flood protection, rivers and streams for fishing and swimming. There are also challenges with aging infrastructure and the impact of climate change on human health and ecosystems.

Challenges that Require New Infrastructure and Approaches to Urban Water Resources

Storm Water if rain is not properly managed and flows over impervious surfaces into the nearest storm drain, it can have a detrimental effect on rivers and streams. In an urban environment, storm water is also closely related to safety, flooding, waterway health and drinking water.

Waterways urbanization is responsible for many of the sources that contribute to waterway degradation. Increases in impervious surface area and runoff have negative effects on stream flow. Once the natural physical condition of a waterway is compromised by pollution or excessive runoff, it sets off a chain of degradation: erosion, water temperature changes and habitat loss.

Watershed groups, municipalities, agencies, and conservation groups working together to develop watershed and restoration plans, implement projects and return streams to healthy thriving systems by implementing watershed assessments and planning programs, quality control plans, floodplain protection, land use management and storm water best management practices and more.

Infrastructure Requires Continuous Inspection and Maintenance

Water Conservation the true cost of water in a property should be measured as the water rate + the sewer rate multiplied by the water consumption volume + plus fees and other associated costs. In addition, while the water usage profile varies by building type and use, mechanical systems account for 30 percent of water use in a typical building, with cooling towers nearly 50 percent and outdoor usage another 20-30 percent.

Water Heating Accounts for Eight Percent of Energy Consumption in Commercial Buildings

Sub meters help identify inefficiencies and malfunctions as leaks account for six percent of water usage and older fixtures consume up to five times more water prompting installation of leak detection systems.

Innovative Solutions to Achieve Water Quality

Architecture Archaeology and Historic Preservation Planning

Growth Management Land Use Planning Green Leases and Water Quality

Your Community Plan for preserving local buildings and sites of archaeological, cultural and historic significance should:

list all archaeological, cultural and historic resources,

identify those potentially threatened by future growth,

recommend actions for safeguarding each, and

explain why the selected actions will achieve long term preservation Read

Green Leases for Properties and Communities. Green Leases promote energy efficiency by creating lease structures which equitably align the costs and benefits of efficiency investments between building owners and tenants Read

Travel Services Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation Projects

   

Growth Management and Land Use Planning. Towns Cities and Counties have plans that set forth how an area should grow i.e. shopping centers, new schools, housing projects and commercial, residential, institutional or industrial development. Your Local Area Plan shows how anticipated growth is likely to affect quality of life for current and future residents as well as visitors to the community Read

A Water Quality Plan should list all the waters and their quality condition expressed as: 

Excellent waters are fit for all human uses and can support sensitive fish and other aquatic creatures; Good waters can support a high number of game fish but not highly-sensitive organisms;

Fair waters support few game fish and are not suitable for swimming;

Poor quality waters support only the most pollution-tolerant organisms Read