Around the Water Cooler: Green Infrastructure Making News
By Lahne Mattas-Curry
EPA will help Philadelphia monitor water quality in rivers to measure the effectiveness of green infrastructure.
Some of my fellow bloggers and I have highlighted a variety of ways “green infrastructure” has helped cities save money, and showcased the impact it has had on helping communities become more sustainable.
We’ve even featured a video of EPA scientist Dr. Bill Shuster at work exploring the benefits of rain gardens and other “green infrastructure” techniques to reduce stormwater runoff from reaching local waterways.
We’re not the only ones who have noticed the potential of green infrastructure. A recent update on the online publication Yale Environment 360 highlights Philadelphia as a possible model for the rest of the country. In June 2011, the city approved the Green City, Clean Waters program, a 25-year, $2-billion plan to reduce combined sewer overflows.
In April 2012, EPA signed off on the project. This is noted as one of the most comprehensive green infrastructure efforts in the country. EPA will help Philadelphia monitor water quality in surrounding rivers to measure the effectiveness of the green infrastructure efforts.
In another recent article, “Save New York by Making it Soft,” New Yorker magazine writer Thomas De Monchaux explores how establishing wetlands around Manhattan could “create new ecosystems, facilitating greater ecological connectivity, improving water quality, and enhancing opportunities for habitat growth.”
Do you have an example or an idea for tapping green infrastructure around where you live? Please share them in the comments section below.
About the Author: Lahne Mattas-Curry works with EPA’s Safe and Sustainable Water Resources research team and is a frequent “Around the Water Cooler” contributor.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Great blog post. You should include the District of Columbia, DC Water and EPA’s “Clean Rivers, Green Partnership Agreement” in this conversation. The agreement will explore using green techniques to reduce combined sewer overflows. More information can be found at http://www.dcwater.com/lid
Thanks for the comment! Yes, there are a lot of cities around the country investing in making the water cleaner.
I have recently written about cleaning the Anacostia – see here: http://blog.epa.gov/science/2012/11/around-the-water-cooler-rivers-offer-food-and-fun-but-only-when-clean/
I will check out the link, thanks for sharing!
Lahne
It’s a Good blog
Regards
Nikky
Cool interactive poster helps explain Trees Tame Stormwater. arborday.org/stormwater