More than 1/3 of the District of Columbia is served by a Combined Sewer System (CSS). Due to frequent over flooding, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) took legal action to reduce Combined Sewer Overflow’s (CSO). This 20-year consent decree, also known as the Clean River Project, was signed between DC Water, the District and EPA in 2005. The main purpose of this project is to “protect the public from possible harmful substances in the wastewater and clean up the waterways, by reducing the pollutants that enter our rivers and can be harmful to wildlife” (District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2015, from http://www.dcwater.com/cleanrivers). Couple of years into the agreement, DC Water and George Hawkins, General Manager of DC Water, are proposing a change to the consent decree to the EPA.
The current plan, also known as grey infrastructure, depends largely on large tunnels to reduce and control overflows going into the District’s Rivers. The tunnels, 13 miles long and larger than Metro tunnels, are constructed more than 100 feet below the ground (District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2015, from http://www.dcwater.com/workzones/projects/first_street_tunnel/faqs.cfm). They are designed to capture CSO during heavy rains and discharge it to Blue Plains for treatment. There is currently a schedule and a 2025 deadline for construction of the tunnels and related CSO control facilities. When complete, it will reduce overflows by 98 percent (Anacostia only) – or more than 2 billion gallons of diluted sewage a year (Green Infrastructure Project. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2015, from https://www.dcwater.com/education/pdfs/green_infrastructure_brochure.pdf).
While the CSS works well under dry weather, during rainstorms, the high-volume flow can exceed the capacity of the pipes in the system. In order to prevent sewer backups, the sewers are designed to overflow into the rivers during rain events causing water pollution problems due to bacteria, chemicals and debris.
DC Water and Hawkins are proposing the green infrastructure pilot program to explore whether a large-scale green solution can reduce overflows enough to make the next tunnels smaller or eliminate them altogether (Green Infrastructure Project. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2015, from https://www.dcwater.com/education/pdfs/green_infrastructure_brochure.pdf).
Unlike the grey infrastructure, green infrastructure draws its inspiration from nature and is meant to capture precipitation where it falls and allow it to filter through or release more slowly and naturally. This practice will reduce the amount of wastewater and storm water going into the waste treatment plant. By doing so, it will increase the efficiency of the plant while reducing the amount of waste (trash, bacteria, heavy metals etc.) that is being dumped into the rivers during overflow.
According to Hawkins, green infrastructure will play an important role in the community. Washington residents play an important role in “greening” their community both environmentally and aesthetically (Hedges, T. (2013, August 7). DC Water Prefers Green Infrastructure, Despite Uncertainties. Retrieved February 17, 2015, from http://thefightback.org/2013/08/dc-water-prefers-green-infrastructure-despite-uncertainties/) . Social capital is the concept that individuals and the community benefit from individuals knowing their neighbors and having supportive social networks (Social capital. (n.d.). Retrieved February 17, 2015, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_capital). Plant life in urban areas encourages use of outdoor spaces and fosters more social interaction. These interactions generate support community cohesion by increasing a sense of well-being, concern for one’s neighbors and community in general. In addition, green infrastructure will also increase local jobs because of a growing need for employees with skills to install and
blossoms) it represents a high-class respectfulness. The tiger indicates a powerful and respected person/ people, and a rabbit is for luck and intelligence. The artist always signs his or her own work by putting their seal on it and adding a Chinese word or phase in calligraphy to it. 5 Woodcut C hinese created woodcuts. The earliest known woodcut incorporating both texts and pictures was created in 868 A.D. This woodcut print can be found in a famous Buddhist text known as the Diamond Sutra…
Ethics 2/28/14 My Theory on Human Nature Throughout the duration of the semester I have been closely watching the actions, and words of those around me. My roommates, my friends, my coworkers, my peers and even the faculty here at Heidelberg University. The diversity of gender, age, and consequently their role at the university played a significant part in my findings. I discovered the obvious, the hidden, the rewarding, and the costly characteristics of conformity and nonconformity…
Paper 1: Natural Hazards GEOG313-0101 Ronald W. Luna, PhD 9/17/14 Carlos Smith 111814466 The country of Peru is located on the western coast of South America on the border of two major tectonic plates, the Nazca Plate and the South American Plate. This geographical positioning makes Peru one of the most vulnerable countries to natural hazards in all of South America. Due to my Peruvian descent I am particularly interested in researching and writing about the natural hazards that…
NTSB (2010) also found organizational issues to be causal in the 2009 multi-fatality subway accident in Washington, DC. The NTSB’s report of that accident stated “the NTSB has on a number of occasions recognized the lack of an organizational culture of safety within a transportation agency as having contributed to an accident” (NTSB, 2010, p. 98). The purpose of this paper is to examine how organizational factors can influence safety – either in a positive or negative fashion and discuss ways…
with some important information over the summer to help with your blossoming student. Learning shouldn't stop just because the sun comes out! Benefits to children when their families are involved in their education: Actions speak louder than words: Most parents would be surprised to know that the single most important determinant of a child's success in school is not how much money they make or if their parents are educated, but family interest and support. (4) Families can demonstrate their…
(1995) says that seeing letters in print is an important part of letter learning, but she prefers instruction that incorporates Three Ways of Remembering unknown letters. (Note these three areas should also be used to help children learn unknown words.) • Seeing letters in print (Printing the letter on a card) • Talking about what the letter looks like (As the letter is written on a board or a white board, the teacher names the letter and talks about its salient features. For example, the letter…
adversity 11. Vindication or despair Chapter 3: The Planets of the Solar System 1. Calculate the volume of the Earth (VE) and the Sun (VS) and compare them to each other by dividing the volume of the Sun by the volume of the Earth. Express the result in words. Radius of the Sun: 695,700 km Radius of the Earth: 6378 km Volume of a sphere = Volume of the Sun VS = 1.4097 × 1018 km3 Volume of the Earth VE = 1.0862 × 1012 km3 VS = 1.297 × 106 VE The Volume of the Sun is one million two hundred ninety seven…
effects of heroin. Since many heroin users often become addicted, it is important to look at its ramifications. Beginning with a brief history of the substance, then discussing treatment programs for those who have problems with heroin abuse, this paper helps to better understand logical reasons that heroin is an illegal substance. The Effects of Heroin on a Person’s Brain and Body: A Literature Review Heroin, also known as…
Kenneth Miranda 14 May 7, 2013 ABSTRACT Gasoline has become a major element in our everyday lives. We are dependent on it for travel. Even with the tremendous fluctuating prices of gasoline, we continue to purchase without waiver. This paper first looks into what gasoline really is and how we have become dependent upon it. Key Terms: gas, gasoline, petrol, crude oil, automobile, petroleum, refinery, gas prices TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
the growing concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. How many moles of carbon dioxide are produced when 10.0 moles of propane are burned in excess oxygen on a gas grill? n = 30.0 mol CO₂ 3. mole-mass problem: Water decomposes to produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. How many grams of water would be required to produce 10.0 moles of hydrogen gas? m = 180. g H2O 4. mass-mole problem: If 25.0 grams of carbon dioxide are used in photosynthesis how many moles of glucose (C6H12O6)…