Maintaining Stormwater Control Measures To Protect The Chesapeake Bay

Background:
Many water, wastewater and stormwater systems are working on improving the management of their built infrastructure. One approach being used is asset management. However, in this program, the assets are all man-made (pumps, tanks, pipe, wells, treatment units, etc.) There are other organizations working on green infrastructure and how green infrastructure can help:
a. Reduce pollution entering storm drains
b. Reduce the quantity of stormwater runoff
c. Reduce the size of the built infrastructure
d. Protect source water e. Encourage aquifer recharge
There are major concerns related to the decaying (often erroneously called 'aging') infrastructure and the cost that operating, maintaining, and replacing this infrastructure will entail. The affordability of maintaining a high standard of treatment for both water and wastewater is also a question, particularly in low income communities and communities of color.
Asset management and capital improvement plans help utilities plan for the realities of decaying infrastructure but do not incorporate natural assets (forested lands, buffer zones, green infrastructure.) These assets can be an integral part of the treatment process given that the environment naturally absorbs and filters water via soils and plants. It acts as a purifier, a barrier and a reservoir. Pollution of our water systems continues to be a problem particularly in large cities. As stormwater drains through gutters and storm sewers it is ultimately discharged into nearby waterways. These waters contain trash, bacteria, oil, heavy metals and other pollutants. These floodwaters can also cause property, infrastructure, and habitat damage.
Water scarcity/security – increasing temperatures, reduction of ground water, reduced snowpack cause concerns regarding sustainability of communities. Natural systems can help encourage water retention or aquifer recharge.
All of these issues intersect in the concept of mixing green and gray infrastructure in a single asset management program. Often, the green and gray infrastructure are thought of and managed by different entities, governmental agencies, or different departments within a community. This approach has the negative affect of creating barriers to greater implementation of green or natural infrastructure. When capital projects are considered, the focus may be solely on the gray infrastructure, not the holistic picture that includes green options. If both the green and gray infrastructure were considered in the same asset management program, different decisions could be made. The green infrastructure could be valued appropriately for the benefits it provides. This combination of green and gray into a single asset management framework is not meant to value green over gray but rather to value green with gray so that holistic effective, data-driven decisions can be made. The benefits of Green Infrastructure include but are not limited to: - Can help meet regulatory requirements - It's above ground and highly visible, aesthetically pleasing – good PR for cities, can sway public opinion - In asset management we talk a lot about preventative versus reactive maintenance/ management but adding green infrastructure will also create an adaptive management approach. - Generate public awareness - Cost reduction - Improved water quality - Reduces risk management - Improved water quality and efficiency improves water security Green Gray AM Framework: The SW EFC has developed an asset management approach that blends green and gray infrastructure. Each component of asset management incorporates green infrastructure. Some examples: - Inventory of green components of the overall system, which may include buffer zones on rivers, recharge zones, parks, pervious pavement, bioswales, biortentention - Development of level of service goals that incorporate goals related to source water protection, reduction of stormwater, retention of stormwater, improved stormwater quality - Examine the criticality of the green infrastructure in the same way that the gray has always been considered - Create a balanced set of performance metrics using the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) of social, financial and environmental that incorporates green infrastructure and sustainability concepts - Funding – consider environmental and social benefits, in addition to financial benefits, for future investments The green gray asset management framework also includes a green asset database which provides an introduction to the types of green infrastructure or natural systems that can be included in an asset management plan for water, wastewater, and stormwater. It also includes general information about each of these types of assets. The green gray asset management framework and database are free, on-line resources available to anyone. The links to these resources are provided below.
Green Gray Asset Framework: https://swefc.unm.edu/iamf/ Green Asset Database: https://swefcapps.unm.edu/gardb
Purpose of the Talk:
This talk will introduce attendees to the benefits of incorporating green assets into asset management, discuss the considerations of incorporating green assets into each phase of asset management (current state of the assets, level of service, criticality, life-cycle costing, and long-term funding.) The talk will also include examples from case studies for systems implementing green asset management. Lessons learned from these communities in incorporating green assets will also presented. Additionally, the talk will tell the attendees about the resources available to them to improve their ability to implement a green gray asset management program. What attendees will get out of the talk: - Attendees will understand why green assets should be incorporated within a gray asset management program. - Attendees will learn how to incorporate green assets into their gray asset management programs. - Attendees will understand some of the special considerations related to incorporating green assets into their existing strategies. - Attendees will learn about free resources available to help utilities implement this approach.