Water, Wastewater, and Stormwater

WHY IT MATTERS

Water is an increasingly precious resource. Communities have many choices with respect to how water is supplied to residents, businesses, visitors, and institutions and what is done with the water once it has been used. Some communities are dealing with impaired water, for example, water with arsenic or nitrates that poses a threat to human health. Other communities are seeking to grow and trying to figure out whether it is time to move from individual wells and septic systems to a centralized system for either water or wastewater. Your community may have a particular body of water such as a lake or river that is of particular concern. Stormwater if not handled properly, can contribute to inflated costs for wastewater treatment as well as environmental degradation. The Green Community Technologies^® approach looks at the entire water system to determine how a community can positively impact the quantity and quality of available water resources while still meeting its needs today and in the future.

Solutions That Work!

Stormwater reduction, Richmond, Vermont

Yellow Wood Associates researched a number of alternative paving regimes that minimize stormwater runoff. Based on performance characteristics and history of use, Yellow Wood recommended that the town should consider using a permeable pavement, such as porous pavement, when re-paving a municipally-owned parking lot. Porous pavement has been shown to significantly decrease stormwater runoff and has performed well in a variety of applications in cold climates, including some in Vermont.

Wastewater treatment alternatives, Hinesburg, Vermont

Hinesburg, Vermont, a town of 5,000 expecting future growth, had reached the design capacity of their wastewater treatment plant. Using a systems approach, Yellow Wood identified alternatives to an enlarged treatment plant that would reduce the inflow water volume, reduce unnecessary treatment, improve efficiency, and extend the life of the current facility at a fraction of the cost of an expanded plant.

Water and wastewater alternatives, Westford, Vermont

In Westford, Vermont, Yellow Wood worked with a citizen Wastewater Committee to prepare and pre-test a survey of landowners in the town center to gather information on sewage disposal systems and water supplies. The survey included information on Vermont’s new regulations with respect to drinking water and wastewater. This was part of a larger study of community wastewater disposal alternatives for the town center, including centralized and decentralized options, led by Stone Environmental of Montpelier, Vermont in conjunction with Yellow Wood and Green Mountain Engineering.

Community water resource and use assessment, West Central Minnesota

West central Minnesota has many small communities that are struggling with outdated water-related infrastructure. West Central Initiatives chose the Green Community Technologies^® service to identify alternative technologies and best practices for drinking water, wastewater and stormwater in three rural communities. Alternatives considered environmental, economic, and social improvements to current practices.

Not sure if GCT is right for your community? Find find out more on RESOURCES PAGE