Green Infrastructure -The difference between civilization and chaos

Some think green infrastructure is unnecessary, while others ask what green infrastructure is. Green infrastructure will be the sole reason some cities and towns crumble. Those who have successfully implemented green infrastructure will thrive, as to the towns/cities that do not; good luck reconstructing.

Green infrastructure is the ability to interweave natural aids like soil systems, permeable pavements, and plants to help relieve the amount of unfiltered water entering our environment. Green infrastructure permits both the environment and engineered systems to work concurrently to help manage stormwater while mimicking the water cycle. Green infrastructure can be applied on both small and large scales. 

Water pollution is predominantly caused by stormwater runoff. After a large storm has occurred, the water must go somewhere. As it flows to our nearest body of water, either by a water channel or stormwater pipes, it picks up harmful pollutants such as oil, trash, bacteria, and heavy metals. Most of the time, this water goes untreated and affects the marine life where the stormwater is being resettled. However, the introduction of stormwater management allows researchers and engineers to help protect all aspects of nature without disrupting it furthermore. 

Stormwater management is the practice of collecting runoff from roads and parking lots and dispersing it elsewhere where there is less risk of flooding or causing damage. Gray infrastructure is a fancy term often used for stormwater management. Gray infrastructure often includes tunnels, gutters, and pipes that bring our stormwater to the nearest body of water. The United States Environmental Protection Agency, also known as the EPA, declares that our gray infrastructure is aging quickly and can no longer manage large volumes of stormwater. As our population continues to expand rapidly, new measures must be executed. Many municipalities across America are starting to execute new plans, but we are not 100% sure they can support the needs. 

Many towns are stuck in the past and still utilize gray infrastructure installed hundreds of years ago. Some municipalities still have combined systems where wastewater and stormwater are mixed into one pipe instead of having separate pipes. Philadelphia’s water department states, “Waterways where a combined sewer outfall is overflowing or has overflowed in the last 24 hours, are unsafe for any type of recreation.” This is an example of what happens when towns still use combined sewer systems. Not only would implementing green infrastructure/technology within municipalities allow water to be processed without the threat of it backing up into our treatment plants, but it would also help combat a municipalities budget.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, nationwide, municipal wastewater treatment plants are estimated to consume 30 terawatts of electricity. This equates to about $2 billion in annual costs. Electricity alone for operating a stormwater treatment plant consumes 25-40% of a municipalities budget. As mentioned earlier, the population continues to skyrocket, causing a need for strategic stormwater management plans to be set in place. Companies nationwide are rolling out new state-of-the-art data management systems that help energy plants track progress toward their new goals and help determine if more research must be concluded. Installing these systems will allow towns and cities to help manage their money and allow for new upgrades to be made within. However, green infrastructure also boosts the idea of a healthier lifestyle.

Claudiu CICEA, author of “Green Spaces And Public Health In Urban Areas,” articulates that urban green spaces promote a healthier lifestyle by encouraging walking, running, and other activities. People enjoy being outside when it is a pleasant area. Very few people want to work out or hang out outside if the area is coated with permeable surfaces or unsafe to perform such activities. Being outdoors allows people to get things done while allowing them to relax and reduce their stress. Studies have also shown that $1 spent on physical activity (time and equipment) leads to about $3.20 in medical cost savings. Urban spaces also increase social inclusion by promoting social contact between people and cultural events like festivals and theatre events. 

Green spaces not only promote social activity and social inclusion, but they help increase the economic value of the given area. Many different experts and researchers have concluded that due to green spaces being included within a city/ town, the property value is much higher than without green spaces. Studies show properties adjacent to green spaces are 8%-20% higher than surrounding houses in the neighborhood. Many homeowners are willing to pay more if they are near a local park, school district, or police station. Implementing green infrastructure would significantly increase a municipalities property values. 

While green spaces promote a more active lifestyle for its citizens, they could significantly help manage our stormwater. Green spaces introduce the idea of permeable surfaces. Permeable surfaces allow water to seep through nonporous blocks like grass or concrete so water can flow between the gaps. It is beneficial because nature will act as a buffer before the water penetrates the ground. It will be naturally filtered and will help eliminate pollution entering our waterways. 

The Federal Highway Administration states that permeable surface systems remove 35% phosphorus and 30% nitrogen. However, these systems have issues filtering out dissolved chemicals, metals, and salts. Many towns have started implementing this relatively new technology. It is effortless to install and maintain. Although it may be more expensive in the short term than concrete, it offers many benefits throughout its life cycle. Towns have even built small reservoirs that hold water instead of flowing down their local waterways. Towns could also reuse this water and offer it to their community members. 

Not only would introducing green technology will provide towns with many solutions for their stormwater management. Not only does it propose new practices to upgrade existing gray infrastructure that is outdated, but it also allows nature to start surrounding cities again. Towns are known for wiping out what once was a forest to develop their town without caring about what habitats they are destroying.

Reference List

Earth’s freshwater. National Geographic Society. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/earths-fresh-water 

Energy Data Management Manual for the Wastewater Treatment Sector. (n.d.). November 2, 2022, from https://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2018/01/f46/WastewaterTreatmentDataGuide_Final_0118.pdf 

Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA. RetrievedNovember 2, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/what-green-infrastructure 

Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA. November 3, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/water-research/green-and-gray-infrastructure-research 

Pavements. U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/