McAdams’ Post

Change is afoot for stormwater management in NSW. If, like me, you work on projects in NSW, be sure to follow Stormwater 2030 and get involved. Of importance to me, is to make sure that major transport projects are included in the journey. Highway and rail projects can have a huge impact on our receiving water quality and operate under different frameworks from our development or other smaller scale projects. It's also important to include drainage designers on the journey. They are often forgotten in the bigger picture of flood mitigation and untrained or not included in discussions about stormwater quality. Let's make sure we get all voices to the table! #waterQuality #stormwater #ADEC #Drainage

This morning our Deputy Chair Julia Prescot was on the opening panel of the @Water Report and Indepen #SocialContractSummit "on what water problems do we need to solve". One of the problems she said was ensuring England's #water infrastructure up to 2050 and beyond can respond to the twin challenges of a growing population and the impacts of #climatechange - i.e increased risk of dought, which necessitated the need to generate 4bn litres of additional water supply a day in England by 2050. Building new supply #infrastructure - along with tackling leaks and reducing demand - was one of the three key routes to solving this long term challenge facing the sector. With significant new infrastructure needing to be built - reservoirs, transfer networks - this required a #regulatory system that functions in a way that encourages investment into the sector when it's needed, but also ensures due attention is given to improving the #resilience and #maintenance of the system as a whole. Attracting investors into the market in the face of competition from attractive markets like the US also means addressing issues likely to give investors pause, such as the current slow pace of the #planning system for major infrastructure. The need for reform of the regulatory environment to drive the right behaviours from companies and investors on issues like #resilience and protecting the natural environment was the focus of much of the discussion with fellow panellists Colin Skellet of Wessex Water, River Action's James Wallace and Lila Thompson of British Water. As too was the importance of the need to rebuild the public's dented confidence in the #water sector and increase the #transparency of both how the sector operates and the costs associated with future-proofing our water system. To familiarise yourself with our recommendations on #water and #resilience in our 2nd National Infrastructure Assessment, visit the #NIA2 page on our website here: https://lnkd.in/eUsUEhCJ

Join T&M’s Michael R. Thomas, PE, PMP, LEED AP ND for his presentation, “Tackling Stormwater Volume Under the New Regulations” at the New Jersey Water Environment Association’s (NJWEA) annual conference. Attendees will learn about stormwater volume mitigation design for land development projects under the latest NJDEP Stormwater Management and Flood Hazard Area regulations, how to consider green infrastructure recharge BMPs that reduce project disturbances and environmental impacts, and how to identify critical design constraints that need to be evaluated up front. Learn more and register: https://lnkd.in/e6edP-Ji 

I was delighted to join Stormwater Victoria Conference, which was held in San Remo, 3-6 June 2024. It was great to meet stomrwater experts from industry and government bodies across Victoria. Some takeaway notes: 1- A better stormwater management needs more collaboration between stakeholders. The era of working in silos is ended. 2- Effective (or better to say SMART) data handling is the key factor for survival and sustainable growth of any industry, including the water industry. 3- Think BIG and act SMALL to be IMACTFUL.

Many thanks to Stormwater Australia for including my article on highway runoff water quality in their inaugural issue! Water quality management for highway projects in Australia is a little understood part of water management so it's great to shine a light on it. Jump to page 11-12 to read the full article. "To see better outcomes in Australia, we must first recognise that water quality management in a highway corridor is undertaken in a different context from our urban development projects. We cannot use the same ‘levers’, such as community recreation, improved aesthetics, or property values, to justify the inclusion of stormwater treatment assets. The levers available in a major road context must instead look to sustainability drivers such as the IS rating scheme. Practitioners working in highway stormwater quality management must also look to other disciplines for support. By linking design or performance requirements from multiple disciplines, we can maximise the perceived value of our stormwater quality treatment systems as well as justifying their continued maintenance budget." Wayne Middleton, Michelle Gribler, Alavy Nishat Islam, Matt Stovold, Darren Stewart, Cathie Norton #stormwater #highways #StormwaterQuality

Last week a debate was held in the Grand Committee Room next to Westminster Hall concerning the "Performance of South West Water". https://lnkd.in/eiFga5wf Simon Jupp MP opened the proceedings as follows: "I am delighted to have secured this important debate, one year on from another debate that I secured on the performance of South West Water. It is another opportunity to hold South West Water to the highest possible standards in the House. Last year, I described the performance of our water company and its historic lack of investment as “shameful”, and many of my constituents shared my point of view. This year, I want to focus my speech on the facts facing my constituency of East Devon. The public want to see evidence of improvement and delivery of the promised investment, and they want South West Water to clean up its act and our water. South West Water must deliver better services for our constituents, improve our bathing waters, and protect our natural environment. Not doing so puts the vibrancy of our coastal communities under threat." What does this house think about the performance of South West Water over the last year/decade? How about the other Great British water companies for that matter? #WaterQuality #WaterSupply

🏕️ Council Future-Proofs Gogeldrie Riverside Park 🏕️ The Gogeldrie Weir campground has recently undergone significant improvements with remediation works undertaken in the transpiration bed to ensure that the site’s effluent system is being effectively managed. The upgrades were undertaken due to the previous system being unable to sustainably manage the current loading and ensured the required Section 68 approval for the ongoing operation of the site. Mayor Cr Tony Reneker highlighted the long-term benefits of the upgrade, stating, "The upgrades not only ensure that we meet current regulatory requirements but also position Gogeldrie Weir for future growth.” “By upgrading the wastewater management system, we’ve effectively futureproofed the site, allowing for potential enhancements such as the installation of cabins (should a future Council decide to pursue this), which will boost the area’s appeal for visitors and locals alike." ➡️ Full details here: https://lnkd.in/g3KymmTb #LeetonShireCouncil #CouncilNews #NewsUpdate

It’s Water Awareness Month!   This month and throughout the year, it is imperative that we safeguard our most precious and vital natural resource, our water. Water is at the core of sustainable development and critical for our ecosystems and economy. #OHLAUSA advocates for the conservation and protection of our water supply especially through its work on several water infrastructure projects including Morena Conveyance North, which is part of the Pure Water San Diego initiative.    The Morena contract requires the installation of 20,870 linear feet of both 48-inch wastewater force main and 30-inch brine centrate pipelines. OHLA USA’s West Region team recently completed the construction of a jack and bore tunnel located beneath San Clemente Canyon, Rose Canyon, and Interstate 805 to house the piping, which will transport wastewater to the North City Water Reclamation Plant where it will be treated to meet recycled water standards for uses other than drinking.   The contract’s scope of work also calls for installing over four miles of a new Fiber Optic system and considerable civil improvements to city streets and walkways.   Morena Conveyance North is one of many water infrastructure projects in OHLA’s portfolio that safeguard the environment and protect California’s precious water supply.   #waterawarenessmonth #waterprojects #water #conservewater #protectwater

We’re counting down the days until California Stormwater Quality Association's 2024 Annual Conference, where EI’s Megan Caiola Chery and Chad Praul will join thought leaders from California and beyond to share innovative solutions for sustainable stormwater management. Be sure to tune in for these sessions featuring our clients and partners: ✅ 1:30pm Municipal Programs Track—discover how the County of San Diego’s trailblazing Waterscape Rebate Program engaged hundreds of residents to make real changes on their landscapes that improve water quality. Our partners will share results, lessons learned, and success stories from this exciting initiative. ✅ 2:00pm Municipal Programs Track—learn about “Building on a Successful Private Property Incentives Program: Treating Impervious Surface on HOA Land.” Our partners from OC Public Works will share how the Orange County Stormwater Program is building on results and innovating by focusing on treating MS4 impervious surface, workforce development, and new types of partnerships. ✅ 4:00pm Stormwater Capture and One Water Solutions Track—learn why when it comes to improving water quality and reducing water use, stacked incentives are a win-win-win in a panel moderated by Chad Praul and featuring our clients and partners Scott Norris, Grant Sharp, and Tia Fleming. #CASQA #waterefficiency #stormwater #stackedincentives

Here is the most recent map and list of municipal utility districts (MUD’s) in Ellis County: https://lnkd.in/guYBYtt3. MUD’s are special taxing districts approved by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to provide wastewater treatment and other utilities for a designated geographic area (usually a new housing development). Because MUD’s are not approved at a local level, municipalities and local residents are left to deal with the negative effects of increased water runoff from new wastewater elimination systems in high-density housing developments without meaningful input or recourse. Ellis County passed a resolution in March 2023 opposing the creation of new MUD’s without local government approval and calling for reform in TCEQ’s permit review process: https://lnkd.in/gmgcZR6u. TCEQ is holding several upcoming public hearings regarding Texas Pollutant Discharge Elimination Systems (TPDES), some of which are associated with MUD’s. Any member of the public wishing to comment on these permit applications may do so at the times and locations listed below: 1) TPDES for Risinger Ridge MUD: 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, February 15th at 3100 N Interstate 45, Ennis 2) TPDES for Circle S Midlothian, LLC: 7:00 p.m. on Monday, March 4th at 210 S Walnut St, Venus Additionally, members of the public may submit comments online at https://lnkd.in/e583mHZg for the following Ellis County TPDES pending permit applications: 1) TPDES for Shankle Road MUD [Discharge 500,000 gallons/day]: Permit No. WQ0016103001 2) TPDES for the City of Italy [Discharge of 650,000 gallons/day]: Permit No. WQ0014195001 3) TPDES for Circls S, Midlothian, LLC [Discharge of 950,000 gallons/day]: Permit No. WQ0016243001 #watermanagement #EnvironmentalResponsibility #housingdevelopment