CDM News - December 2007 - (Page 13)

Interview: on Integrated Urban Water Resources Management In Singapore, for instance, where annual rainfall totals 100 inches (254 centimeters) but storage is Urban sustainability, encompassing environmental limited, we’re completing an innovative, multipurpose urban water project. We’ve designed a protection, economic opportunity, and quality of life, depends on clean water availability. Because 1,000-foot-long barrage that creates a freshwater water is a vital part of urban infrastructure, sound impoundment, which controls runoff from the water management contributes directly to a healthy, urban watershed while providing supply, flood sustainable urban environment. At the risk of control, and recreation. In a few years, this oversimplifying, we must treat water with more approach will allow runoff from 80 percent respect if we are to sustain viable urban centers. of Singapore’s area to be captured and Every drop we collect should be retained as long treated as water supply. as possible and used, treated, and reused. Recognizing that water-based facilities are How can cities integrate water into key to sustainability, officials in Singapore urban development? and elsewhere are integrating water manageA starting point is to bring utilities—typically ment with transportation, land use, and urban separated into stormwater, wastewater, and water development. Linear parks are being designed supply—into a single operation, as we’re seeing in with drainage facilities, reservoirs are opening for places like Los Angeles and Singapore. When you recreation, and the public is being invited to enjoy combine these functions, you can more readily water resources. Another trend is greater attention implement comprehensive, integrated strategies. to the energy required to treat and transport water. The challenge for stormwater specialists then In the Singapore Marina Barrage project, solar becomes more than collecting and releasing excess power provides public space lighting. Elsewhere, precipitation, but finding ways it can benefit the wind farms are being built with new desalination community. Likewise, wastewater specialists could plants to create energy-neutral schemes. stop locating large treatment facilities near coasts for ocean discharge and instead build smaller What about water-scarce areas? plants where highly treated water can be reused Although the challenges are different, the solutions locally—without the infrastructure and energy are similar. Areas without adequate supplies stand costs needed to carry it across metropolitan areas. to benefit tremendously from integrated systems. In the Middle East, Jordan is emerging as a leader What trends are emerging? in water reuse for agriculture, industry, and One is the increasing ability to treat relatively low- landscaping through integrated planning across quality water to potable standards. This allows government ministries and community outreach. urban runoff to be collected, treated to very high Other regions are recognizing the large demand for standards with membranes and other technologies, non-potable use, like industry, and are shifting to and used. With adequate drainage system design, dual-reticulation programs. All of us must evolve new technologies, and an integrated approach, in our thinking about water management. An urban areas can supply much of their own water. integrated approach requires overcoming technological, economic, and social barriers, but we’re making progress. Brendan Harley How are urban sustainability and the water environment linked? Brendan M. Harley, Sc.D., CEng, senior vice president, is an internationally recognized expert in water resources planning and management. He has directed the development of urban water supply strategies and urban water quality control projects in metropolitan areas and is presently the project director for the multi-purpose Marina Barrage project in Singapore. 13

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of CDM News - December 2007

CDM News - December 2007 Contents Sustainable Utility Design for Harvard University’s Expansion Plan Sustainability Takes Flight at Los Angeles World Airports Sustainable Water Management in Jordan Operating in the 4th Dimension Interview: Brendan Harley on Integrated Urban Water Resources Management Modeling New Orleans’ Urban Metabolism Sustainability at CDM Highlights

CDM News - December 2007

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