Why a New Water Plan May Make Phili One of the Greenest Cities YetBy Tara Lohan, AlterNetPosted on September 29, 2009, Printed on September 30, 2009www.alternet.org/142985/">http://www.alternet.org/bloggers/www.alternet.org/142985/Finally, a city that really wants to work with nature and not against it.The Phili1_6_billion_plan_to_tame_water.html?page=1&c=y> Inquirer reports:Philadelphia has announced a $1.6 billion plan to transform the city overthe next 20 years by embracing its storm water - instead of hustling it downsewers and into rivers as fast as possible.The proposal, which several experts called the nation's most ambitious,reimagines the city as an oasis of rain gardens, green roofs, thousands ofadditional trees, porous pavement, and more.Like most cities, Phili has an issue when it rains too much. Overflow"gushes from 164 pipes directly into the Delaware, the Schuylkill, andTacony, Pennypack, and Cobbs Creeks. Bacteria levels skyrocket." So, inlooking for solutions to having to pay to treat stormwater and to deal withoverflows of toxic waste, the city has gone away from the typical route ofbuilding new tunnels and massive infrastructure and instead chosen anincredibly ambitious and incredibly green plan that will hopefully befollowed through on. They've also projected some added1_6_billion_plan_to_tame_water.html?page=1&c=y> benefits:The Water Department says the city's greening would result in more jobs,higher property values, better air quality, less energy use, and even fewerdeaths - from excess heat.Here's how it would work:The idea now is to "peel back" the city's concrete and asphalt and replacethem with plants - with rain gardens, green roofs, heavily planted curbextensions, vegetated "swales" in parking lots, and mini-wetlands.Everything from impervious streets to basketball courts would be replacedwith paving made out of larger particles that let rainwater flow through andleave no puddles behind.And what about commercial and residential properties?As for commercial properties, the city now requires that large developmentsor redevelopments - ones that disturb 15,000 square feet of land or more -install systems to capture runoff.For many projects, that means a green roof, which costs more but reducesheating and cooling costs and lasts longer. The one installed on thePhiladelphia Museum of Art's parking garage - with one to five feet of soil- supports a sculpture garden.In July, the Water Department will begin phasing in commercial rates basednot on how much water a facility uses, but on how much impervious surface ithas.For a parking lot with, say, three acres of asphalt and two bathrooms, therates will jump, giving owners incentive to repave.As for residences, officials are hoping rain barrels on household downspoutsbecome as common as the city's blue recycling buckets.All this stuff in their plan has been done before and it's highly effective.But at a citywide level, this is super encouraging. Kudos to Phili, let'shope they become an example others cities will follow.Tara Lohan is a managing editor at AlterNet.
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Great Stuff Don. I just found this post and wanted to put in my 2 cents.
Think globally, act locally.
This group has 9000 members, votes, that should have some political muscle in the valley. We could increase that number by getting the word out at the local Sprouts, Trader Joe's, Sunflowers, nurseries, DBG, even Home Depot, any place like minded people gather. If we are concerned about sustainability let's get our face out there for “the powers that be” to reckon with. Any person or group can lobby the Phoenix city council, why not the PPG?
I have been reading the posts in this group and think we have the passion and talents to at least make the effort to influence our local governments to act responsibly to work on sustainability and our natural resources. "Where's the SOLAR?" “Where are the rain water and greywater movements”
One of our credos is “Care of the People”, that means getting involved in the direction of our government and it's policies for sustainability. We are a grass roots movement, with the most logical agenda; our future. When I look at the number of volunteers {32 members} compared to the number of PPG members, I am surprised with the lack of participation. Is it a lack of commitment, a lack of direction or are we as a group missing the point?
We are in the forefront of this movement in the valley, and doing an amazing job. I agree that we {AS A CITY} are lacking in direction and priorities politically and permaculturally. We {The PPG} are still learning to crawl as far as being an organization so let's do something about it. Phoenix could be a benchmark city that is looking towards the future and doing something about it.
"Who will help me plant the wheat?" Everybody wants to eat the bread.
Is it just me?
Too much caffeine?
I think I need to go dig a hole or something.
Marion
I just wanted to point out that there are a little over 4,000 members on this site, not 9,000. While I am confident many others are silent observers, I can't say there are 5,000 of them.
The volunteer group was designed to get people in touch with the PPG and volunteer opportunities and by no means represent the entire group of very dedicated people who volunteer on a regular basis, like myself. Criticism comes easy and really takes a toll on people after a while--it is taking a toll on me! Is there more work to be done? Isn't there always? It is easy to tear things down, but hard work to build things up.
The Phoenix area has made great strides in water issues in recent years and AZ has one of the most user friendly grey water codes in the nation, a model for other states such as California which JUST recently revised their grey water laws so that the average homeowner can practice simple techniques-modeled after us, ARIZONA! I can only imagine the work (I think it is actually called dedication) it took to get us where we are now while ragging against the machine.
Here is my shout out to all of the volunteers and people behind the scenes who do what they do because they want to make a difference. The work is hard, sometimes long hours, and the pay is usually in satisfaction-not dollar bills. You make a difference, you are the change! ~Peace out!
I hear your frustration and ask you pose this to the PPG Board - send it to the general discussion. I agree the PPG has 9000 web members and it means nothing without active involvement.
Most just sign up to take a class or two, a minority partisipate.
I do all that i can, so push poke prod the leadership and folks around you to do more we need activists/doers.
I will be presenting Permaculture for the City of Mesa Sept 11th
Not really, just Full support of RWH, Ground water recharge and Decreased housing [esp. in outlying areas].
On the proactive side Planting tall growing trees everywhere, for now......
Replies
Think globally, act locally.
This group has 9000 members, votes, that should have some political muscle in the valley. We could increase that number by getting the word out at the local Sprouts, Trader Joe's, Sunflowers, nurseries, DBG, even Home Depot, any place like minded people gather. If we are concerned about sustainability let's get our face out there for “the powers that be” to reckon with. Any person or group can lobby the Phoenix city council, why not the PPG?
I have been reading the posts in this group and think we have the passion and talents to at least make the effort to influence our local governments to act responsibly to work on sustainability and our natural resources. "Where's the SOLAR?" “Where are the rain water and greywater movements”
One of our credos is “Care of the People”, that means getting involved in the direction of our government and it's policies for sustainability. We are a grass roots movement, with the most logical agenda; our future. When I look at the number of volunteers {32 members} compared to the number of PPG members, I am surprised with the lack of participation. Is it a lack of commitment, a lack of direction or are we as a group missing the point?
We are in the forefront of this movement in the valley, and doing an amazing job. I agree that we {AS A CITY} are lacking in direction and priorities politically and permaculturally. We {The PPG} are still learning to crawl as far as being an organization so let's do something about it. Phoenix could be a benchmark city that is looking towards the future and doing something about it.
"Who will help me plant the wheat?" Everybody wants to eat the bread.
Is it just me?
Too much caffeine?
I think I need to go dig a hole or something.
Marion
The volunteer group was designed to get people in touch with the PPG and volunteer opportunities and by no means represent the entire group of very dedicated people who volunteer on a regular basis, like myself. Criticism comes easy and really takes a toll on people after a while--it is taking a toll on me! Is there more work to be done? Isn't there always? It is easy to tear things down, but hard work to build things up.
The Phoenix area has made great strides in water issues in recent years and AZ has one of the most user friendly grey water codes in the nation, a model for other states such as California which JUST recently revised their grey water laws so that the average homeowner can practice simple techniques-modeled after us, ARIZONA! I can only imagine the work (I think it is actually called dedication) it took to get us where we are now while ragging against the machine.
Here is my shout out to all of the volunteers and people behind the scenes who do what they do because they want to make a difference. The work is hard, sometimes long hours, and the pay is usually in satisfaction-not dollar bills. You make a difference, you are the change! ~Peace out!
Most just sign up to take a class or two, a minority partisipate.
I do all that i can, so push poke prod the leadership and folks around you to do more we need activists/doers.
I will be presenting Permaculture for the City of Mesa Sept 11th
Keep digging
Keep prodding
Are you saying we need more pervious pavement here? I would think catchment and reuse would be more important here.
I'm not jabbing, just asking.
Bill
On the proactive side Planting tall growing trees everywhere, for now......