Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 - (Page 6)

OUR VOICE Beyond Oil The Next Crisis If a disaster strikes and fresh water stops flowing, one of the first places people are sent by emergency officials to get a couple of gallons of clean water is the tank on their toilet or from the hot water heater. Why? It’s the same water that comes out of the kitchen faucet. While we’re out watering the yard or washing the car, taking a cold drink from a garden hose saves a trip inside the house. The same pure, clean, potable water that greens the grass and quenches our thirst is sent to commercial and industrial plants, for the most part to aid in their processes rather than for consumption. Climate change is reducing mountain snow packs which provide fresh melt water to fill the rivers and aqueducts for a large segment of the western population. One of nation’s largest sources of fresh ground water, the Ogallala Aquifer, which lies hundreds of feet underground in the heart of the country, is being drawn down to irrigate fields as well as supply water for parts of several states. Natural soil infiltration can’t keep up with the demand. Meanwhile, a major source of naturally soft, fresh water comes down as rain and snow, but current practices are designed to find the fastest way to get it off the land and into the nearest waterway…and spend a lot of money to make it happen. Rain and snowmelt are viewed more as nuisances than part of a solution to address a looming crisis. Projections are that more than 35 of the 50 states will face water shortages in the very near future and half the world’s population will be in the same boat in 50 years. Our industry, which continues to face a crisis of its own when it comes to public image, is standing at the door of a tremendous leadership opportunity. The perception that development is bad for society and the environment can be counteracted by those who are willing to promote and utilize processes and products that make the most out of every gallon of fresh water available. In the long run, it not only preserves a critical resource for human survival, but it has the potential to make money for the developer and save money for municipalities and the end users, whether they are home owners or companies. How much money and land would be saved by implementing programs that reuse rain water and ultimately allowed it to infiltrate the ground to recharge aquifers rather than build expensive stormwater infrastructure? How much money would home owners save if they were able to reuse the pure, clean, highly treated tap water that they pay for? These are not new concepts. To varying degrees in many parts of the country and the world such processes have been working for years. Australia is a prime example as well as Europe and parts of Africa. In some areas they are recycling wastewater strictly for non-potable purposes. In others, wastewater is going through extra treatment to be reused as potable water. This issue of Sustainable Land Development Today discusses two such systems: one for wastewater reuse for non-potable purposes and one to harvest rainwater. They say that necessity is the mother of invention. As the world’s population expands and climate change and other factors negatively impact water supplies, people will be forced to rethink their attitude toward water. Cheap and plentiful will soon be unreasonable. Our industry can be a leader in changing public opinion about recycling and reusing the fresh water we have, and in the process change the perception people have of the industry. Our industry is in the position to incorporate new products and processes as well as bolster the research and development of new innovations. There is a leadership opportunity for those who are willing to open the door. Send us your 2¢! We welcome your opinion Reader responses to articles in Sustainable Land Development Today are encouraged and may be sent via mail or email (Editor@SLDTonline.com), or online through SLDTonline.com. Mailing address: Sustainable Land Development Today, Attention: Editor, 275 East 10th St. Suite 201, Dubuque, IA 52001 The mission of Sustainable Land Development Today is to be the leading forum for the exchange of ideas to advance the principles of sustainability--balancing the needs of people, planet and profit. In fulfilling that role, divergent beliefs and perspectives will at times result in debate which we believe will produce the solutions required to address the ever-changing challenges of the industry into the future. 6 May 2008 Sustainable Land Development Today http://SLDTonline.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 Contents Our Voice Editorial Board SLDT Resources Addressing a Crisis with Wastewater Recycling Visionary Award Finalists The Jonquil City - How a City Revitalized its Downtown Industry Spotlight: Enviroquip Solar Power System Design and Installation Stormwater: The Return of the Cistern Site Amenity: Fiber Optics Surveying and Mapping Wastewater: Low-Pressure System Special Feature: The Urban Canopy as Infrastructure Industry News Advertiser Index Products/Services Showcase Classifieds The Last Word: Nature Bats Last…

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

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