owls 2013: atlanta spotlight
TRANSCRIPT
One Water Leadership SummitSPOTLIGHT: Atlanta
Moderator: John Batten, Executive Vice President, ARCADIS
Panelists:Jo Ann J. Macrina, PE, Commissioner, Dept of Watershed Management, City of Atlanta
Margaret E. Tanner, PE, Deputy Commissioner, Dept of Watershed Management, City of AtlantaCatherine Owens, PE, Senior Civil Engineer, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.
Denise Quarles, Director, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, City of AtlantaStacy Funderburke, Real Estate Associate, The Conservation Fund
From Federal Enforcement to Federal Partnerships
Department of Watershed ManagementDepartment of Watershed Management
City of Atlanta Watershed Management
• Serves population of 1.2 million (450,000 night)– Adequate water supply and treatment capacity
• 2 ½ water treatment plants, 112 MGD (2 plants)
– Adequate wastewater treatment plant capacity• 4 wastewater treatment plants, 184 MGD• 6 CSO facilities
• Regional provider; 6 wholesale govt. customers• 2,750 mi of water mains• 1,900+ mi of sewer (50-100 yrs old)
– 15% combined, 85% separated
• 1,475 positions• Annual budget $595M
Department of Watershed ManagementDepartment of Watershed Management
Watershed Management – Pre 2000
• Long-term system under-investment• Failed water utility privatization
– Consent Orders• Flawed stormwater utility fee imposed
– $7 million refunded• 2 Wastewater Consent Decrees
– 100+ overflows/yr at CSO facilities– 1,000 sewer spills in year 2000
• Poor image– Insensitive– Inactive – Incompetent– Irresponsible
Department of Watershed Management
CSO Consent Decree Success
• Consent Decree issued Sept 1998, full compliance by Nov 2008
• Reduced CSOs from 100/yr to 4/yr
• Total cost: $711M
West Area CSO Tunnel Boring Machine
Department of Watershed Management
SSO Consent Decree
• Consent Decree issued Dec 1999, full compliance by July 2014 (*extension)
• Phased Approach to Capital Improvement Program– Phase I - Sewer System Evaluation Survey (1600
miles)– Phase II - Sewer Rehabilitation– Phase III - Sewer Capacity Relief– Total -- $1.4 Billion Capital Program
• Preventive Maintenance Program
Department of Watershed Management
Post – 2000 Highest W&S Rates in US
Department of Watershed Management
Compliance at a Price
71% decrease in number of spills to waters of the state
Success!
Department of Watershed ManagementDepartment of Watershed Management
Mayor Kasim Reed
Commitment to Community•Provide effective solutions for real issues•Community involvement•Take action and follow throughCommitment to Sustainable Initiatives•Focus on green solutions•Focus on decreased carbon footprint•Focus on reduced energy consumptionCommitment to Environmental Protection•Comply with all regulations•Manage infrastructure responsibly•Build partnerships with state and federal agencies
Department of Watershed Management
Achieving the Goals through New Initiatives
• Financial flexibility with CD extension– 13 year extension; longest in U.S. (1999-2027)– Approx $450MM work remaining– Ability to balance all needs
• Integrated Water Resources– Data analysis – Utilize technology
• Sustainability & Green Infrastructure
Department of Watershed Management
Promoting Sustainability
• Goal of green infrastructure - mimic the natural hydrologic function – preserving conservation areas– reducing impervious surfaces– installing aesthetically-pleasing structural measures such as
• green roofs, vegetated swales, permeable pavement, infiltration planters, cisterns, and rain gardens.
• An alternative approach to managing stormwater runoff• Decreasing energy consumption• Waste to energy program• Enhancing aesthetics and public access/use
Department of Watershed Management
Southeast Atlanta Green Infrastructure Initiative
Background:•Homes built in historic stream channels; low lying areas where stormwater naturally drain•Stream channels were piped; floodplains still exist due to pipe overflows from capacity limitations•Combined sewer area out of conveyance capacity
– Limited capacity often exceeded by high rainfall events– Stormwater runoff exacerbated by higher amounts of impervious cover running
across hard surfaces at greater velocities – Over time, systems cannot accommodate developments
•Partial improvements made, leaving other problems •Typical solutions can be disruptive, cost prohibitive
Department of Watershed ManagementDepartment of Watershed Management
Computer Simulation of Existing Conditions 25 year 4 hour “Critical” Storm
Drainage Area Total Area
(acres)
Impervious %
Mechanicsville/ Peoplestown 900 65%
Summerhill 505 58%
Grant Park 380 42%
Englewood Manor 715 42%
Assessment of Issues
Department of Watershed Management
Phased Approach & Community Input
• Action Plan– Immediate Response – Completed w/in 30 days– Short Term Projects – Completed w/in 6 months– Intermediate Projects - NTP: Nov.1, 2013– Long Term Projects - In Design
• Follow-up Meetings with Community– Communicate phased approach– Inform them of alternatives & schedule
Department of Watershed Management
Short-Term Projects – March 2013 completed
Department of Watershed Management
• Media Lot Vault
• Permeable Pavers
Intermediate Projects
Media Lot Vault
Department of Watershed Management
Intermediate Projects – Permeable Pavers
• ~6 miles of permeable pavers: – Mechanicsville– Peoplestown– Summerhill
AfterBefore
Department of Watershed Management
Long-Term Projects
• Three additional storage vaults• Detention Ponds• Cistern at Braves Stadium
Connally Storage 1 & 2
Columbia Apts
Department of Watershed Management
Urban Waters Federal Partnership
• “Through our partnership, we will revitalize urban waters and the communities that surround them, transforming overlooked assets into treasured centerpieces and drivers of urban revival.” www.EPA.gov
Department of Watershed Management
Proctor Creek Watershed
• DWM Activities– Streamwalks– WQ data– Spill response program– FOG education– Future BMPs– Future Green Infrastructure projects
Department of Watershed Management
Atlanta Green Infrastructure Projects
Green RoofCity Hall
Rainwater HarvestingSouthface
Rain GardenAdair Park
Pervious PavingEnglish Park
BioswaleFernbank Museum
Stormwater PlantersJuniper Street (Proposed)
Pervious ConcreteFelder Street
Stormwater Bump-outWhitehall Terrace
Atlanta BeltLine Key Project Elements:•22 miles of modern streetcar transit
•33 miles of multi-use trails
•1,300 acres of parks
•5,600 units of affordable housing
•1,100 acres of brownfield remediation
•Public Art
•Historic Preservation
•Economic Development
Historic Fourth Ward Park and Skatepark•17 acres•Opened June 2011•2-acre lake that doubles as stormwater capacity relief •Outdoor amphitheater•Modern playground with splashpad•Open, passive lawns•Elegant walkways
Atlanta BeltLine Investments$362 million: Total funds invested to date•$157 million: Atlanta BeltLine Tax Allocation District (TAD)•$121 million: City of Atlanta bond funds (Watershed, Parks, Public Works)•$22 million: Federal (transit and trail)•$21 million: Federal (streets and streetscapes within the TAD)•$41 million: Private philanthropic
Awards and Accomplishments•Livable Centers Initiative Grant ($4 million) (2012)•Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Grant ($1.47 million) (2012)•Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) “Development of Excellence Award” for Historic Fourth Ward Park (2012)•Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Land Deal of the Year” for the Eastside Trail (2012)•Environmental Communications Award Grand Prize (2013)•Atlanta Urban Design Commission “Adaptive Reuse Award” for the Eastside Trail (2013)•Great Places in Georgia “Public Spaces” Award for D. H. Stanton Park (2011)•Atlanta Urban Design Commission Award for Historic Fourth Ward Park (2011) and D. H. Stanton Park (2012)•GAASLA Merit Award For D. H. Stanton Park (2011) and Historic Fourth Ward Park (2012)•ULI Project of the Year (2013)
Eastside Trail•2.25 miles•Opened October 2012•First trail segment built in old railroad corridor•Connects five intown neighborhoods, three major parks, and bike paths•Corridor preserved for transit•Over 600 large trees planted
Environmental remediation:•73 acres of brownfields remediated•Environmental Justice Policy adopted by Board of Directors (August 2012)
Master Planning•All ten subarea master plans adopted by Atlanta City Council (April 2012)
Power to Change is Atlanta’s citywide sustainability initiative
Full Circle Commitment360 success that can be measured 365 days a year⁰
• 5 Stakeholder groups around…
• 10 Impact Areas with…
• 30+ Measures of success and…
• 100+ Initiatives.. Green infrastructure is 1 initiative but it affects multiple impact areas
Atlanta ACTS Citywide….Green Infrastructure for the Urban Community
Academia Nonprofit Atlantan
Spelman College
Water Efficient Landscaping • 59.52% reduction in the use of
potable water for landscaping. • 39,950 gallons savings of potable
water annually; avoiding $1,469 a year in water costs.
Residential
Potable Water System
• First installed under
rainwater ordinance.
• 49,400 gallon/50 inches rainfall potential
Southface Energy Institute
Green Roof• Entire building’s water savings
are an 84% overall reduction in potable water consumption compared to a baseline commercial building of the same size, saving 112,781 gallons/year.
Atlanta ACTS Citywide….Green Infrastructure for the Urban Community
Business Business
Home Depot
Rainwater Holding Tank• 500,000 gallon tank• Landscape irrigation retro-
fits saving water too
Epsten Group
Green roof system• 91% of sites
stormwater captured, treated and infiltrated on site
• LEED Platinum facility
Government
Fire Station #16
Rain Garden• Sized to capture the first
1.2” of runoff from stations downspouts
Expanding Atlanta’s Greenspace
Land Acquisition
Facilitating Green InfrastructureBest Practices
Philadelphia Peer Exchange
City of Atlanta Green Infrastructure Task Force
Conservation LeadershipNetwork
Engaging Communities in Green Infrastructure
Seeing Multiple Benefits of a Green Infrastructure Approach
Community Leaders Trip - Milwaukee