Detroit, Michigan has had a history of sewage overflow problems. Last August it was hit by a mega-rainstorm that caused extreme flooding and released approximately ten billion gallons of raw sewage into the region's waterways. This and other factors have led to some experimentation in the …
Water Rationing Lifted in Taiwan as Worst Drought Ends
Taiwan has experienced its worst drought in 67 years over the last few months, but with a downpour of seasonal rain, the drought was declared finished this month. However, severe water rationing was put in place for the duration of the drought, and compared to the rationing that Californian's …
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Infrastructure Asset Management Effect of the LAX Stormwater System
On May 28th Los Angeles authorities announced that two separate drainage systems would be built underground to capture Stormwater runoff from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Mayor Eric Garcetti is concerned that the water runoff from the airport is both being wasted and causing pollution …
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Chicago is Taking the Waste out of Wastewater for Eco-friendly Use
The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago built the largest phosphorus recovery facility in the world at Stickney Water Reclamation Plant, which opened in 2016. Phosphorus and other nutrients are usually lost during wastewater treatment, but executive director David St. …
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Is it Time to Stop Growing Cotton in the Arizona Desert?
In the middle of the dry, Sonoran Desert of Arizona, the Wuertz family (and several others) have been farming cotton for generations. This was once considered an exciting accomplishment, but now it weighs on their consciences, as this now unneeded crop siphons so much of Arizona's limited water …
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Best Infrastructure Asset Management – NE Fixes South Platte River Issue
The South Platte River that flows into Nebraska has been recently high but flooding impact has been limited. Central Platte Natural Resources District (CPNRD) board spent almost $17 million over the last few years to rehabilitate three Dawson County irrigation canals to deal with the excess water …
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San Angelo TX Mulls Potable Reuse – Infrastructure Asset Management View
According to a study that began last year, San Angelo, Texas, has less than 15 months of water before it is all dried up. In light of this knowledge, the city is very seriously considering turning to potable reuse as a source of drinking water. The city's water utility director, Bill Riley, …
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Infrastructure Management Planning Lessons from the Washington Drought
On Friday the 15th of May, 2015, Washington's Governor, Jay Inslee declared a statewide drought emergency. Concerned with the lack of snowpack (sitting at a mere 16% capacity) and a dry, early fire season, Gov. Inslee said, "We're seeing things happen at this time of year we just haven't seen …
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Infrastructure Asset Management – Detroit’s ‘Blue Infrastructure’ Project
Detroit, Michigan is soon to discover whether an innovative landscape concept is known as "blue infrastructure" will work to save taxpayers money. Blue infrastructure is the practice of using ponds, fields, and other more natural settings as the depository of rainwater and snowmelt from sewers …
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Infrastructure Management Planning Builds Water Infrastructure Resilience
Water expert, Sharlene Leurig, director of Ceres (a Boston based non-profit organization) sustainable water infrastructure program, recently stated that Austin's dependence on the Colorado River as its only source of water is a "critical vulnerability". She then went on to claim that Austin was …
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Infrastructure Asset Management – Hawaii Engineers’ Path to Resiliency
A dedicated group of local engineers from Honolulu, Hawaii have recently been exploring how possible climate change, particularly sea-level rise, could adversely affect their wastewater infrastructure. Timothy Steinberger, the former director of Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services, …
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Environment-friendly Infrastructure Management thru Low Impact Development Planning
Low Impact Development Planning (LID) is an innovative urban planning method that aims to imitate the natural infusion of water into the ground. It involves creating an infrastructure that facilitates water to infiltrate, evaporate, and transpire while limiting runoff. Basically, LID involves …
