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Line 1: − == Managing Costs and Containing Risks Using the One Water Approach ==+ − Integrated Stormwater Management Planning requires robust application of the One Water approach. Municipalities can employ the One Water approach in order to both explore the interconnections between water systems and to use this information to make the most informed water management decisions. Using this approach will help to a) ensure that water infrastructure systems deliver the appropriate level of service to human populations, and b) minimize negative impacts on other water systems, including natural systems like aquifers, streams, and lakes. Making the transition to a new, forward-looking, and sustainable integrated water management framework will support municipalities and other decision makers in addressing a complex system of drivers and risks. Such drivers and risks include aspects related to climate change, urban development, redevelopment and intensification of existing areas. Failing infrastructure – and the cost of its repair and replacement – is one example of risks. A 2007 survey carried out by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and McGill University survey found that the estimated water infrastructure deficit in Canada was $31 billion for existing infrastructure, plus $56.6 billion for new infrastructure needs, including water, wastewater and stormwater systems (FCM, 2007). Since the One Water approach considers these systems in a systematic, integrated manner, it can help water managers identify cost-effective solutions that can impact and improve multiple systems. It can also help municipalities determine and prioritize investments based on benefits to residents and the watershed.+ + + + + + + + + + − Rainwater harvesting is one simple example of a cost-effective solution which yields multiple benefits. Rainwater harvesting provides an alternative water source for activities that do not require potable water, such as gardening or flushing toilets. In turn, residents use less municipal drinking water – which is expensive and energy intensive to treat and distribute, especially for such activities. For some municipalities, including the City of Toronto, Region of Peel, and City of Guelph, treating and distributing water can account for 25% to 60% of total municipal electricity costs. As such, the One Water approach can provide conservation not only of water, but of energy. This relationship is known as the water-energy nexus. Additionally, capturing rainwater decreases the flow of water to municipal stormwater management systems, which can alleviate stress on older systems that lack capacity for high volumes of water, potentially reducing instances of flooding and erosion. The alleviation of such stresses is akin to finding ‘hidden capacity’ within an existing system, and can result in the deferment of expensive system upgrades if implemented on a broad enough scale. The One Water approach emphasizes solutions that offer multiple benefits. To properly evaluate these solutions, it is helpful to consider water management through the lens of the watershed.
Managing Costs and Containing Risks using the One Water Approach (view source)
Revision as of 13:13, 12 March 2018
, 6 years ago→Managing Costs and Containing Risks Using the One Water Approach
Municipalities should employ a One Water approach to explore the interconnections between water systems and to make the most informed water management decisions.
Using this approach will help to:
a) ensure that water infrastructure systems deliver the appropriate level of service to human populations, and
b) minimize negative impacts on other water systems, including natural systems like aquifers, streams, and lakes.
Making the transition to a integrated water management framework will support municipalities and other decision makers in addressing a complex system of drivers and risks. Such drivers and risks include aspects related to [[climate change]], [[urban development]], redevelopment and intensification of existing areas. Failing infrastructure – and the cost of its repair and replacement – is one example of risks. A 2007 survey carried out by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) and McGill University survey found that the estimated water infrastructure deficit in Canada was $31 billion for existing infrastructure, plus $56.6 billion for new infrastructure needs, including water, wastewater and stormwater systems (FCM, 2007). Since the One Water approach considers these systems in a systematic, integrated manner, it can help water managers identify cost-effective solutions that can impact and improve multiple systems. It can also help municipalities determine and prioritize investments based on benefits to residents and the watershed.
[[Rainwater harvesting]] is one simple example of a cost-effective solution which yields multiple benefits. By providing an alternative water source for activities that do not require potable water, such as gardening or flushing toilets, residents use less municipal drinking water – which is expensive and energy intensive to treat and distribute.
For some municipalities, including the City of Toronto, Region of Peel, and City of Guelph, treating and distributing water can account for 25% to 60% of total municipal electricity costs. There, the One Water approach can provide conservation not only of water, but of energy. This relationship is known as the water-energy nexus. Additionally, capturing rainwater decreases the flow of water to municipal stormwater management systems, which can alleviate stress on older systems that lack capacity for high volumes of water, potentially reducing instances of flooding and erosion. The alleviation of such stresses is akin to finding ‘hidden capacity’ within an existing system, and can result in the deferment of expensive system upgrades if implemented on a broad enough scale. The One Water approach emphasises solutions that offer multiple benefits. To properly evaluate these solutions, it is helpful to consider water management through the lens of the watershed.
== The Watershed Perspective ==
== The Watershed Perspective ==
[[File:Credit_River_Concept.jpg|thumb|A conceptual image depicting a Lake Ontario watershed demonstrates that the watershed scale reveals the connections between different water management activities, and their reliance on shared water resources. The figure depicts a scenario where storm sewers discharge directly to streams and lakes without treatment, and areas where ponds treat stormwater prior to discharge. The figure shows drinking water sourced from groundwater, riverine and lake sources, as well as a pipeline to transport the water to upper reaches within the watershed. Lastly, river-based and lake-based wastewater discharge – including from combined sewers – is also shown. (Source: CVC).]]
[[File:Credit_River_Concept.jpg|thumb|A conceptual image depicting a Lake Ontario watershed demonstrates that the watershed scale reveals the connections between different water management activities, and their reliance on shared water resources. The figure depicts a scenario where storm sewers discharge directly to streams and lakes without treatment, and areas where ponds treat stormwater prior to discharge. The figure shows drinking water sourced from groundwater, riverine and lake sources, as well as a pipeline to transport the water to upper reaches within the watershed. Lastly, river-based and lake-based wastewater discharge – including from combined sewers – is also shown. (Source: CVC).]]