In a recent article by Matt Simon for WIRED, Pacific Institute’s new national assessment on untapped potential of urban stormwater runoff in the United States is brought into focus. Bruk Berhanu, Ph.D., P.E., Pacific Institute Senior Researcher and report co-author, emphasizes the critical role stormwater capture should play: "There really is no reason why stormwater capture shouldn’t be up there on the list of water sources for all communities in the country that are looking to secure their long-term supplies."
The recently launched report reveals that urban areas generate an estimated 59.5 million acre-feet of stormwater runoff annually, equivalent to an annual average of more than 53 billion gallons per day. This figure represents 93% of total municipal and industrial water use, underscoring the massive untapped potential for sustainable water management.
Heather Cooley, Director of Research at the Pacific Institute, points out the changing dynamics due to climate change: "Even in areas that are becoming drier, we’re seeing more intense precipitation events. So the number this is generating is really an average annual number. And we think there is additional work to be done to look at the effects of climate change on runoff."
Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g2n6Q742
Download the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gtaeAarw
Register for an upcoming webinar on March 19 to learn more about the findings: https://lnkd.in/gf36YpAJ#RethinkRunoff#StormwaterCapture#PacificInstitute#WaterResilienceShannon Spurlock | Morgan Shimabuku | Jessica Dery | 2NDNATURE | Jason Morrison | Amanda Bielawski, PhD | Peter Gleick
Recent article in Forbes highlights the growing importance of water security and innovative solutions, such as #StormwaterCapture.
The piece spotlights our recent report, “Untapped Potential: An Assessment of Urban Stormwater Runoff Potential in the United States” which finds US urban areas have the potential to generate 59.5 million acre-feet of stormwater annually, on average. This is equivalent to an annual average of more than 53 billion gallons per day.
Read the article: https://lnkd.in/gUF78GiP
Read the report: https://lnkd.in/gtaeAarw#WaterResilience
US cities could be capturing billions of gallons of stormwater each day, according to a recent report from Pisces Foundation partners at Pacific Institute and 2NDNATURE. Highlighted in WIRED, this research shows how investing in stormwater capture can increase water supplies while also reducing flooding and preventing pollution from entering our waterways.
Stormwater capture is an important #OneWater strategy, solving multiple water challenges simultaneously. Even better, when incorporating green infrastructure, stormwater capture can provide multiple benefits to communities, including green space, urban cooling, and more.
Read more about this research and opportunities for cities to become more water resilient here: https://lnkd.in/g2n6Q742
Urban areas in the United States generate an estimated 59.5 million acre-feet of stormwater runoff per year on average—equal to 53 billion gallons each day. Over the course of the year, that equates to 93 percent of total municipal and industrial water use.
What if we captured and reused stormwater instead of moving it away with pipes and gutters? This is the idea of green stormwater infrastructure, which captures stormwater for new uses like watering nearby plants. Tempe is working on a plan to implement green stormwater infrastructure citywide. The goal: water conservation and a shadier, cooler Tempe. 🌎💧 tempe.gov/greencodes
#StormwaterManagement
"Urban areas in the United States generate an estimated 59.5 million acre-feet of stormwater runoff per year on average—equal to 53 billion gallons each day—according to a new report from the Pacific Institute, a nonprofit research group specializing in water. Over the course of the year, that equates to 93 percent of total municipal and industrial water use. American urban areas couldn’t feasibly capture all of that bountiful runoff, but a combination of smarter stormwater infrastructure and “sponge city” techniques like green spaces would make urban areas far more sustainable on a warming planet.
“There really is a substantial amount of stormwater runoff being generated all across the entire country,” says Bruk Berhanu, lead author of the report and a senior researcher at the Pacific Institute. “There really is no reason why stormwater capture shouldn’t be up there on the list of water sources for all communities in the country that are looking to secure their long-term supplies.”
...
This measure of 59.5 million acre-feet of annual stormwater runoff in the US comes from historical precipitation data. But going forward, climate change is messing with that rainfall in two main ways. It’s intensifying droughts, like in the American West, so there will be less rainfall in many places. And counterintuitively, because a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, rising temperatures result in heavier rainfall when it does rain.
“Even in areas that are becoming drier, we’re seeing more intense precipitation events,” says Heather Cooley, director of research at the Pacific Institute. “So the number this is generating is really an average annual number. And we think there is additional work to be done to look at the effects of climate change on runoff.”
The atmospheric river that soaked Los Angeles earlier this month, for example, was likely worsened by climate change. And LA, of all places, is actually paving the way for cities to better exploit the available stormwater highlighted in this new report. Or, technically speaking, the city is doing the opposite—the idea is to replace pavement with more dirt and greenery, which soaks up stormwater.
LA was able to capture 8.6 billion gallons of water from that atmospheric river in just three days, in part by diverting it into huge “spreading grounds” to percolate into the dirt. “In most of the country, we’re going to expect—and we’re already seeing—larger, more intense storms that deliver a lot of water in a short amount of time, and then longer periods between the storm events,” says Seth Brown, executive director of the National Municipal Stormwater Alliance, which provided input for the new report. “There has been this growing trend of: let’s live with water, let’s embrace water where it is, let’s manage it and value it as a resource.”
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sustainability solutions finance for the clean energy transition
« Urban areas in the United States generate an estimated 59.5 million acre-feet of stormwater runoff per year on average—equal to 53 billion gallons each day—according to a new report from the Pacific Institute, a nonprofit research group specializing in water. Over the course of the year, that equates to 93 percent of total municipal and industrial water use. »
#rethinkthesystem#cities#citiesofthefuture#climatecrisis
What if we captured and reused stormwater instead of moving it away with pipes and gutters? This is the idea of green stormwater infrastructure, which captures stormwater for new uses like watering nearby plants. Tempe is working on a plan to implement green stormwater infrastructure citywide. The goal: water conservation and a shadier, cooler Tempe. 🌎💧 tempe.gov/greencodes
sustainability solutions finance for the clean energy transition
« Urban areas in the United States generate an estimated 59.5 million acre-feet of stormwater runoff per year on average—equal to 53 billion gallons each day—according to a new report from the Pacific Institute, a nonprofit research group specializing in water. Over the course of the year, that equates to 93 percent of total municipal and industrial water use. »
#rethinkthesystem#cities#citiesofthefuture#climatecrisis
Regular maintenance is key to ensuring the optimal performance and longevity of your green infrastructure systems.
Whether it's bioswales, rain gardens, or permeable pavements, consistent upkeep helps these systems effectively manage stormwater and support sustainability.
Keep your infrastructure in top shape for lasting environmental benefits.
#stormwater#civilengineering#waterquality#aquashield#greeninfrastructure
𝙋𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙢𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙠 𝙉𝙚𝙬𝙨 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙧𝙩 !!!
Stormwater management is becoming increasingly vital for U.S. municipalities and property owners due to the rise in climate events causing over $156.8 billion in damages since 2000. Bluefield Research projects capital expenditures in this sector will grow from $34.6 billion to $54.5 billion by 2030, driven by federal investments. With 57% of the market in commercial and industrial sectors, innovative solutions like decentralized infrastructure and green practices are essential. It's crucial for policymakers and property owners to prioritize proactive stormwater management to protect communities and ecosystems.
Stay tuned, every friday for more news and updates!
Source: https://shorturl.at/LIKVG#StormwaterManagement#SustainableSolutions#ClimateResilience#FloodPrevention#SmartCities