Koltz, Brandon

Presented at WEFTEC 2023.

Titles from this speaker

Description: Milwaukee Water Quality Initiative: A Comprehensive Watershed Plan and an Integrated...

Milwaukee Water Quality Initiative: A Comprehensive Watershed Plan and an Integrated Plan in Advance of the Legislation and USEPA Guidance

Abstract

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) initiated the 2020 Facilities Plan and jointly branded Water Quality Initiative (WQI) to determine the best (meaning best value for the money spent) investments necessary to improve water quality for the rivers, tributaries, estuarine waters, harbor area, and Lake Michigan within its planning area. With pollutants from CSOs and SSOs significantly controlled, concentration on further reductions from those sources versus investments in urban stormwater management, support of reducing nonpoint pollution sources, and restoring habitats with enhanced flood management were incorporated in a watershed approach to facilities planning. This was done well in advance of the U.S. EPA’s Integrated Planning Guidance released May 2023. Recommended actions by MMSD and partners continue to be implemented and a gradual improvement in water quality has been observed

The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District from 1977 and 2000 completed planning, design, and construction of $4.0 billion of gray infrastructure improvements controlling CSOs & SSOs, yet water quality impairments continued in area waterways! In 2000 MMSD initiated the 2020 Facilities Plan to identify and prioritize actions that would help improve water quality in receiving waters. This before-its-time approach positively benefited the environment and was undertaken in advance of EPA Guidance.

SpeakerKoltz, Brandon

Presentation time

16:00:00

16:20:00

Session time

15:30:00

17:00:00

SessionI Plan, You Plan, We All Plan for Integrated Plans

Session locationRoom S501a - Level 5

TopicIntermediate Level, Utility Management and Leadership, Watershed Management, Water Quality, and Groundwater

Author(s)

Koltz, Brandon

Author(s)B. Koltz 1; K. Sands 2 ; B. Koltz 1;

Author affiliation(s)Water & Environmental Consulting LLC, Carthage College, Milwaukee School of Engineering 1; Independent Consultant 2 ; 1;

SourceProceedings of the Water Environment Federation

Document typeConference Paper

PublisherWater Environment Federation

Print publication date Oct 2023

DOI10.2175/193864718825159032

Volume / Issue

Content sourceWEFTEC

Word count21

Description: Roadmap! Taking Integrated Planning for Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater on the...

Roadmap! Taking Integrated Planning for Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater on the Road

Abstract

Current Clean Water Act regulations affecting municipal wastewater and stormwater discharges inhibit collective efforts as individual stakeholders are forced to address rigid and narrowly focused regulations. EPA’s Integrated Municipal Stormwater and Wastewater Planning Approach Framework (EPA, 2012) applies systems thinking based on a one water principle, coupled with local accountability. A more effective one-water regulatory framework can create more economical and sustainable outcomes that result in better overall water quality. Integrated planning is a concept that supports prioritization of capital investments in all forms of water infrastructure designed to protect human health and the environment, and to incorporate societal objectives in the most cost-effective, affordable way. Integrated planning also provides more coordination and up-front planning at the local level along with local stakeholder accountability. The result is less overall cost to achieve ultimate goals, compliance with regulations, and successful outcomes. While the framework has existed for a decade and is now part of the Clean Water Act, less than 0.5 percent of municipalities are taking advantage of it.

This paper was presented at WEFTEC 2023 in Chicago, IL.

SpeakerNemura, Adrienne

Presentation time

08:30:00

10:00:00

Session time

08:30:00

10:00:00

SessionRoadmap! Taking Integrated Planning for Municipal Wastewater and Stormwater on the Road

Session locationRoom S401a - Level 4

TopicFundamental Level, Stormwater and Green Infrastructure, Utility Management and Leadership, Watershed Management, Water Quality, and Groundwater

Author(s)

Nemura, Adrienne

Author(s)A. Nemura 1; B. Koltz 2 ; J. Phillips 3; S. Dominick 4; S.W. Vallabhaneni 5;

Author affiliation(s)Geosyntec Consultants 1; Brandon Koltz Water and Environmental Consulting, Carthage College and Milwaukee School of Engineering 2 ; Parametrix 3; Hazen & Sawyer 4; AECOM 5;