RESILIENCY RESOURCES

• How Pandemics Have Changed American Cities — Often For The Better

  New York City’s experience as the epicenter of the U.S. COVID-19 outbreak is raising questions about urban living. Quarantined residents worry about the future in a city known for its tight quarters and full theaters. But cities have long had to transform themselves to overcome disease.

• Peak Wet Weather Flow Management — A Slow And Painful Process

  The water and wastewater industry is not like most businesses. Our industry is driven by many factors, including environmentalist concerns, federal and state regulatory water quality requirements, and utilities being good stewards of our waterways and providing clean water for drinking and recreational use. We have accomplished a lot of great work to clean up our waterways and provide safe water since the Clean Water Act (CWA) was first passed.

• A Market-Based Tool For Groundwater Conservation

  Ventura County, California, is an agricultural powerhouse. In 2017, its revenues from agriculture were an estimated $2.1 billion. It also faces extraordinary population pressure, with nearly 450 people per square mile — about five times the average population density of the United States. Both agriculture and infrastructure are dependent on, and impacted by, the availability of water — which has itself been impacted by California’s rapidly-diminishing groundwater reserves.

• An Earth Day To Remember

  Probably all of us have seen or read about dramatically improved air quality, water quality, and nature while stay-at-home orders are in place around the world, few manufacturing facilities are operating, and limited cars are on the road. Many of us have seen it with our own eyes. At work the other week, I saw a fox walking across our parking lot; and I am regularly hearing coyote cries at night. On NPR the other day, I heard a story saying that people are asking if the birds are chirping louder. No, there is just so much less noise.

• An Infrastructure Stimulus Will Make America More Resilient, If We Get It Right

  Congress is currently focused on passing a series of stimulus relief bills to support medical professionals, hospitals, individuals and small businesses in an attempt to mitigate the worst effects of the global coronavirus pandemic.

• MWRD Completes Another Link In Its Tunnel And Reservoir Plan

  Despite a frightening global coronavirus pandemic threatening the health and safety of workers everywhere, construction is moving forward.

• Devastated Community Finds Innovative Wastewater Solution

  The community of Kinglake West was on a waiting list to receive government financing for a new sewer system when, in 2009, a disastrous fire swept through the area. The damage was so extensive that funding for a wastewater collection system was expedited. The new system needed to be up and running as soon as possible, without being an undue financial burden to homeowners.

• A World Reimagined — One Where People Realize The Value Of Water

  Times of significant disruption that put the “normal” way we operate on hold are an incredible opportunity for reflection, pressing the reset button, and starting in a fresh direction. Hopefully, many people are realizing how they have let their lives get so busy that they have lost touch with things most important to them, like family; and they are taking this time to start fresh.

• Integrated Solutions Drive Resource Recovery And System Resiliency

  Traditional approaches or wait-and-see tactics, which at times can save the day, too often result in missed opportunities for incremental improvements that could act as building blocks of a long-term strategy. Integrated solutions can reveal this strategy road map for a resilient and reliable water infrastructure system.

• Climate Change, Pollution, And Urbanization Threaten Water In Canada

  Our water resources are under threat from contamination, land use, urbanization, and climate change. If we’re not careful, it may not be clean enough or available when we need it.