CAUGHT IN THE ACT – UNSUSPECTING ENGINEERS DESIGN MUNICIPAL WATER AND WASTEWATER PROJECTS OOZING WITH SUSTAINABILITY!

Though the terms “sustainability” and “triple bottom line” may be relatively new to many waterworks and civil engineers, such language is becoming increasingly relevant in today's world, where awareness of rising energy costs, natural resource limitations, and greenhouse gas emissions is more pronounced than ever before. As corporations, municipalities, and academics scramble to align themselves with sustainable business and management practices, the water and wastewater industry has long been home to careful consideration and planning that can certainly be considered sustainable. This paper provides sustainable design ideas, considerations, and examples of how the triple bottom line has been and may be further achieved within traditional water and wastewater engineering efforts.