Conserve Water through Local Action

Stormwater = Energy Use = CO2 emissions

The Problem with Stormwater:  At first glance it is difficult to see the relationship between CO2 Emissions and rainfall events, however, for the nearly 800 combined sewer (CSO) Communities throughout the United States, rainfall events result in peak flows to wastewater treatment plants and tunnel storage (TARP).  Thus requiring large amounts of energy for pumping and treatment of this combined storm and sewer water. 

In MS4 communities where storm and sewer pipelines are separated, storm water runoff collects oil, trash, animal waste, and fertilizers delivering them directly to our waterways and degrading the water sources from which we obtain our potable water supply, thus increasing energy demands for treatment.

Green infrastructure as a Solution:  Our WRMEC program helps to transform the perception of rainfall as a liability to an asset by improving the way we capture, convey, and use stormwater through Green Infrastructure (GI).  Implementing GI in communities reduces energy in two ways: minimizes new pipe installation and replacement, and reduces stormwater treatment in combined sewer communities.  Rain barrels, raingardens, biorention basins, green roofs, and pourous paving is increasingly being used as a solution to detain and infiltrate stormwater onsite. 

WRMEC seeks to quantify and analyze the energy reduction achievable through better stormwater managment by conducting our own monitoring projects as well as examining other successful GI policies, programs, and projects.  By developing, collecting, and disseminating GI information, NVOC is expanding the way these issues are communicated and understood.   An enhanced understanding of the positive impacts of, and barriers to GI implementation will enable our partners and others to draft policy recommendations at the local and state levels.  Check out our findings by downloading a pdf of our presentation given in Copenhagen on the right panel.