Response to Changing Climates: Protecting and

Adapting Community Infrastructure.

Mike Black, Senior AdvisorANTHC

Division of Environmental Health and Engineering4500 Diplomacy Drive, Anchorage AK 99508

Division of Environmental Health and Engineering (DEHE)

Sanitation Health Facilities and Clinics

Operations and Maintenance (O&M) and Training

Alaska Rural Utility Collaborative (ARUC)

Environmental Health Energy

ANTHC Active Sanitation Projects

Active Projects in Water & Sewer by Lead

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

State of Alaska Village Safe Water

Municipal Grants and Loans

Preserving Infrastructure: The Changing Arctic

• Cost of not protecting, adapting infrastructure has been estimated to shorten the useful life of water and sewer infrastructure by 3.5 years.

• This adds Billions of dollars to preserving the sanitation utility. Estimated that not adapting current infrastructure may add $3-6 B (rebuilding) by 2030 for Alaskan villages.

Strategies for Preserving Community Infrastructure in a Changing Environment

• Monitor and understand the changes that are happening.

• Adapt the infrastructure to make it more resilient.

• Abandon the infrastructure and rebuild.

• Protect the infrastructure from the threatening environment.

• Move the infrastructure to a location that is not threatened.

N

S

EW

GCI Cell SystemIn Village

Monnit Gateway

Cloud Gate CellPhone Modem

Kyle the Super Intern

Monnit Server

Cloud Based Server

Pressure Sensor

Temperature Sensor

Flow Rate Sensor

Run Time Sensor Etc Etc Etc

Internet Connection

ANTHC / DEHE Rural Energy Program“Wireless” Process Remote Monitoring

Retrofit for Rural Alaska

Remote Monitoring: System Using Wireless Sensors/Cell Phone Network

Remote

End User

Monitor: Structural Health Monitoring SystemsMassive ice formation exist in permafrost soil beneath many communities and structures.

When ice melts, the soils subside and the structures above the ice experience settlement that can be up to several feet, damaging foundations and pipelines.

In Noatak, failing foundations from permafrost warming

Protect: Active/Passive Cooling of Permafrost

Failed Arctic BoxesCaused by Differential Settling from Permafrost

Thaw.

Adapt: Flexible Service Line

Line moves in relation to home without damaging the connections

Arctic Box Adaption in Savoonga

Move: Portable Alternative Sanitation System (PASS) in Kivalina

Typical system layout Rain catchment system

ANTHC has developed a small demonstration project in Kivalina. This system is designed to address the most basic sanitation needs and is portable so it can be moved to a new location.

Current PASS Projects:Northwest Arctic: Kivalina Interior: Chalkyitsik, Allakaket, Alatna YK Delta: Oscarville

Elder, Allakaket Elder Home, Allakaket

Seepage Pit, Chalkyitsik

Move: Other W/S Infrastructure:

Modular Water Treatment Plant Modular Laundromat/Washeteria

Major Sanitation System Components that can be moved.

Watering Point , Water Treatment Plant and Washeteria

Thank youMike Black

mlblack@anthc.org

For more information, please visit: www.anthctoday.org/dehe/cbee.html