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Water
Scott Taylor
Project Director, San Diego, California, USA contact form+1 760 650 5397
Ronald Reagan once said, “There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don’t care who gets the credit.” Embracing this mindset can help stormwater program managers solve America’s stormwater quality problem and keep the nation’s waters “fishable and swimmable” as required by the Clean Water Act.
According to the Water Environment Federation’s (WEF) “2023 Rainfall to Results: The Future of Stormwater,” one of the most effective ways to improve stormwater quality is examining all pathways and pollutants within a watershed to prevent contaminated stormwater runoff from entering lakes and streams. This requires engaging a variety of people and programs to achieve success. For example, a typical watershed may include agriculture, suburban, industrial, commercial and recreation areas. Potential pollutants include pesticides, herbicides, fertilizer, chemicals and petroleum hydrocarbons that are deposited in the air and on surfaces. Effective watershed programs require stormwater experts working together to analyze pollution inputs and mediums and develop controls that prevent pollution at the source or remove contamination once it has occurred.
Preventing pollution at the source requires reducing contaminants in the air. Some airborne pollutants are easy to identify, such as the burning of fossil fuels. However, less obvious airborne pollutants are emerging as significant problems. Examples include microplastics and synthetic chemicals such as perfluorinated and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). Implementing clean air programs in compliance with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Air Act helps identify these pollutants and limits their potential to become airborne.
Removing contamination from stormwater runoff requires upgrading wastewater collection systems and treatment plants. During a storm, wastewater collection systems may become overburdened and discharge untreated sewage. This is true for systems where stormwater is separated from domestic sewage and systems where the two are combined. For separated systems, ensuring stormwater does not enter the sewer system primarily through manholes and cross connections is essential for preventing contamination. For combined systems, increasing treatment capacity can reduce the frequency of sewer overflow events discharging contaminated stormwater runoff.
Using this comprehensive strategy, our team of experienced environmental professionals are helping improve stormwater quality across the United States by providing nature-based solutions for projects that address water quality, flooding, recreation, ecological uplift and climate change. In addition, we have helped stormwater professionals develop watershed manuals, guides and policies focused on comprehensive watershed management.
In Hawaii, our Mapunapuna Flood Risk Mitigation Study and Action Plan studied the Moanalua and Kalihi Watersheds and proposed mitigation solutions that met a wide array of evaluation criteria, including protection from floods and environmental benefits. Protection against climate induced sea-level rise, for both 30-year and 50-year timeframes, was also evaluated. This was done in partnership with local stakeholders to ensure that mitigation solutions went beyond flood control and provided holistic benefits such as water quality, recreation, sustainability and beautification of the surrounding area that aligned with stakeholder priorities.
By working together, we can help ensure watersheds are safe from pollutants and America’s waters remain in good condition for years to come.
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