Reassessing Higher-Ed Sustainability Goals in the Age of COVID-19
As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues to force U.S. colleges and universities to operate remotely, many of these campuses have been using the closures to analyze their sustainability goals and long-term energy needs. With far less foot traffic around campus and utility demands lower than a typical year, the past few months have allowed campuses to gain traction on new sustainability projects. “It takes time to get momentum, and once you get it, you need to keep going,”[1] Paul Kempf, assistant vice president of utilities and maintenance at the University of Notre Dame said. Schools like Loyola Marymount University (LMU) are […]
National Water Sustainability Act Introduced to U.S. Senate
Earlier this month, Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) introduced the Water for Tomorrow Act, legislation that ensures the country’s water supply can be maintained safely and sustainably for the future. The threat of climate change continues to intensify water scarcity and extreme weather conditions, especially in the West Coast and Mid-West states in the U.S. By combining the water sustainability measures from the Water Justice Act and key measures from the FUTURE Drought Resiliency Act, the Water for Tomorrow Act serves as the most progressive legislation introduced regarding water resiliency and sustainability. “Every American has the right to clean water,” said […]
Clean Water 2020: The Roadmap for Wastewater Management in Ohio
The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency (NOACA) held a virtual public meeting on July 1st to answer questions about the proposed clean water plan that would serve as a 20-year roadmap for wastewater management and water quality. The plan, Clean Water 2020, is an update to the NOACA’s current wastewater management plan which was released in 2000. Updated every 20 years, Clean Water 2020 is part of Ohio’s statewide water quality management plan which is required by federal law. NOACA is the environmental and transportation planning agency for the region and is tasked by the state to develop the regional […]
Water Costs on the Rise Across the U.S.
In a recent study conducted by Circle of Blue, a worldwide water information and collaboration center, it was made apparent that water and sewer rates are surging across the United States at an alarming rate. Overall, both water and sewer rates have increased by more than 30 percent in just the past decade while some cities, such as Baltimore, have more than doubled in that same time. The trend of snowballing rate increases stems from the aging conveyance infrastructure underneath each city. Water utility providers are coming to the realization that the rebuilding or improvements needed for their infrastructure will […]
Water Management in Urban Centers
Water management is a challenge facing the world, whether it is from too much water or too little. Prolonged drought and population growth continue to be key areas of concern for water utilities, especially in urban centers. According to the UN, urban areas currently comprise approximately 55% of the world’s population and estimates that percentage will grow to 68% by 2050. Water uncertainty threatens many of the most populous cities throughout the world as they struggle to mitigate the combined factors of climate change, population growth and water loss. The unrelenting population growth of cities signifies demands on water infrastructure […]