Green Infrastrture- The only hope for Survival
The lack of green infrastructure will make some cities and towns crumble. Green infrastructure is the approach of substituting existing infrastructure with new technology that meets the needs of current and future needs. Those who have successfully implemented green infrastructure will flourish as a town, but for those who still need to, it might be a good idea to start before it’s too late.
The implementation of green infrastructure will help 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 that is permitted to flow without mitigation directly into major waterways without management. 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.
Green Infrastructure will work alongside existing stormwater management that is currently collecting runoff from roads and parking lots and dispersing it elsewhere . Green infrastructure would help offset stress on current systems and process stormwater 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.
Towns still suffering with century-old gray infrastructure think new technology is either unavailable or too expensive; both are incorrect. 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.
The implementation of green infrastructure would also help cut costs of electricity as it would decrease the workloads of current systems set in place. 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.
Green infrastructure also encourages a boost in physical activity and mental health. 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.
While green infrastructure allows a huge boost of moral for the community, it also increases 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.
Green infrastructure not only promotes a more active lifestyle for its citizens, but the newly developed technology will significantly help manage our stormwater. Green infrastructure introduces 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.
Green infrastructure will be one of the only solutions that introduces green technology that will provide towns with many upgrades from their current stormwater management practices. Not only does green infrastructure propose new practices to upgrade existing gray infrastructure that is significantly outdated, but it also allows nature to start surrounding cities again.
Clean water management is possible but controversial because it requires money and imagination, both of which our governments lack. However, it is possible. I have some suggestions in my Green Water Town Proposal.
According to the City of Carmel Engineering Department, more than 60% of water pollution comes from trash and litter. Following this, my first implementation would be that all drains that lead to underground stormwater passageways must include appropriately maintained filters. They would be hung from the inside of the storm drain and act like a coffee filter focusing on objects like trash and large debris that may have fallen during a storm. The public works of the specified municipality will check this filter once a week, ensuring the drain functions properly and is clear of any debris the filter may have caught. The filter will be made of sustainable mesh plastic that is 100% recycled plastic. It is crucial that this mesh will be cost-effective and will not cost the town anything to purchase these required filters.
Advanced Drainage Systems, or ADS, has already introduced a similar product. One of their fascinating products is their Flexstorm Lite model. The Flexstorm Lite is a steel frame made of 12 GA corrosion-resistant steel rated for 500 pounds independent of the storm drain already utilized in all towns. The steel frame supports a woven monofilament FX geotextile bag that achieves 82% filtration efficiency. Flexstorm also introduced a bypass system that once the bag is full of debris, water can still make its way through. Their systems are affordable for towns and cities looking to upgrade, and they can even be installed and maintained by one worker. This allows for efficiency to drastically improve while ensuring that harmful debris stay clear of our waterways.
This system will allow most trash and debris to stay clear of our waterways, though that is not all. Communication is a crucial factor that is lacking in our society. Creating a database of all stormwater drains will allow workers to ensure that all drains are properly maintained and frequently checked. All the drains will be entered into a database that all public work workers can access. Citizens of the town will also have access to the database, allowing them to report issues and guarantee that backups are not created.
From above, all buildings owned by the town are required to collect all rainwater on the rooftop. It does not matter what material is used, but the rooftop must have a successful system that covers at least 500 sq feet of the rooftop. The rainwater collected from the system will be directed into one large PVC pipe run into a separate custodial closet. This closet must be either at ground level or halfway in the building. The closet will have a wheel and filtration system spaced out properly. Using gravity, the water will fall from our collection system installed on the roof down the pipe, hitting the wheel. The filtration system must be able to filter all large debris and harmful pollutants. This filter will not have to pass the standards of drinking water, but it must be able to be used for things like watering plants or washing cars.
As demonstrated in Joe Malovich’s video, the force of the water will spin the wheel and generate electricity for the building to utilize. Although Malovich relies on pressurization to spin his turbine, we are more focused on gravity doing the work. Malovich proves that a system similar to his can be built and installed almost anywhere in the world.
Towns and cities should begin executing a program regarding rainwater harvesting systems. Suppose any residential or commercial building installs the system provided above will receive cost savings on their electric and water bills as the borough will not have to provide as many utilities.
If the town is located near an ocean, it must build a desalination facility. The desalination unit will process salty water into clean drinking water that may also be used for other activities. The desalination unit will be made out of all recycled metal, plastic, and other materials. The town must hold an event or fundraiser to help offset the initial cost of the facility. One hundred mini energy-producing stations must be put in the ocean each year until it can successfully offset all energy consumed by the desalination facility. The energy-producing stations will be the size of beacons currently residing within oceans.
They will be attached to the ocean floor and have a mechanism that allows them to bob up and down. When they bob up and down, it will generate electricity. It is up to the municipality whether all stations are linked and sent to the town or if the stations charge an onboard battery that will need to be checked and replaced with an empty charge battery once a week.
Ryan Ono, author of “What is wave energy?” backs up my proposal by introducing what exactly wave energy is.
“Waves are created when wind blows over the ocean, moving water molecules at its surface, creating ripples and, eventually, waves. Waves can then drive generators that produce electricity using devices called wave energy converters (WECs).”
WECs are put in the ocean and bob up and down on the surface of the ocean. As the cylinder is in motion, they use pistons, hydraulic rams, and electrical generators to produce electricity. Waves are constantly crashing on and offshore, ensuring wave energy is a stable renewable energy source, unlike solar and wind. While we make our way back to shore, we will focus our attention underground.
All stormwater pipes must be redirected to a facility within the municipality that will treat stormwater. Unlike the system on the town buildings that do not have to meet proper water drinking standards, this facility will have to meet these standards.
The facility will run entirely on renewable energy from our WECs implemented in our oceans. In case the WECs are slow on startup, the facility will utilize other renewable sources like wind and solar in case of extreme scenarios. It will also be able to process enough water no matter the rainstorm’s size or natural disaster. It will have state-of-the-art water tanks that will allow clean water storage for up to two weeks. Depending on the town’s size and the number of residents, more tanks may be needed.
Traditionally in wastewater management, facilities use chemicals to treat wastewater. Instead of relying on chemicals, the towns must use natural options like plants and bacteria to treat their water. These plants will be grown within the town and part of a community outreach program. The plants and bacteria will be grown sustainably and utilize the water that is processed from our rain collection systems implemented on our town buildings. This facility will be a crucial part of the town because it will allow for another water source without depleting nearby lakes and reservoirs.
My Green Water Town proposal does not include every aspect of a perfect stormwater management plan but proposes new ideas that have never been heard of before. Technology will never limit implementation. As years go on, science will continually improve and meet the needs in demand. My proposal focuses mainly on physical technology, so someone else will have to figure out government mandates and commercial investments. My Green Water Town proposal will allow a municipality to understand what an ideal system may look like and what the standards are to be the best in the country.
Across the U.S., the absence of advancements to our water infrastructure is causing poor hygiene and ill health effects to many Americans since it is hundreds of years old and developed for much smaller cities and populations.
America is quickly falling behind; without quick decisions, we will continue to spiral downhill. James Mcbride, the author of “The State of U.S. Infrastructure,” acknowledges that America is in desire need of upgrades. He states,
” The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has compiled regular “report cards” on the state of U.S. infrastructure since the 1980s. In its 2021 report [PDF], the ASCE found that the nation’s infrastructure averaged a “C-,” up from a “D+” in 2017 and the highest grade in twenty years. Still, the group estimated that there is an “infrastructure investment gap” of nearly $2.6 trillion this decade that, if unaddressed, could cost the United States $10 trillion in lost GDP by 2039.”
Commercial businesses, also known as private sectors worldwide, have provided exciting innovations that will give America a chance to bounce back, as found within my Green Water Town proposal. However, governments loathe implementing new technology since it requires tremendous capital investment.
In March of 2021, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, introduced a Bipartisim Infrastructure Law that would devote one trillion dollars to upgrading America’s crumbling infrastructure. The Infrastructure law plans to focus on ten segments ranging from wifi speed upgrades to upgrading how public transportation runs. Although Biden introduced ten segments to upgrade America’s crumbling infrastructure, only one significant towards water is “No more Lead Pipes.” No more Lead Pipes introduces $55 billion of funding to help out the 10 million American households that do not have access to safe drinking water. This segment is long-awaited and offers government funding to fix severe public health problems.
However, with the introduction of Biden’s Infrastructure Law, Chris Edward believes we need to go in a different direction and could put the funding elsewhere. Edwards acknowledges that Bidens Infrastructure Law includes realistic goals but argues it is not green and contains a lot of unnecessary and wasteful spending.
Edwards argues that most of Bidens spending would go to facilities owned by states and private sectors. He believes they have all the means to fund infrastructure upgrades without federal aid. He uses an example from The National Conference of State Legislatures, stating that since 2013 over 33 states and the District of Columbia have created legislation that would increase gas taxes.
Edwards also illustrates that Bidens Infrastructure Law took the wrong side on greening our future. Edwards claims that Biden’s plan was supposed to help mitigate climate change through pro-environment user charges, which would include raising prices and taxes to help decrease the usage of water systems. However, Biden’s new law offered incentives for upgrading water systems or buying electric vehicles instead of trying to cut usage overall.
To go along with Chris Edward’s asserments, Chad Staddon, one of the many contributors to “Challenges of mainstreaming green infrastructure in built environments professions,” firmly believes that implementing green infrastructure across America is too soon, and many concerns still exist.
Staddon states that there is significant uncertainty about how to go about planning, designing, implementing, and maintaining green infrastructure. Staddon’s first challenge discussed is design standards. After interviewing many managers, he discovered limited capacity regarding the design phase: the design phase needs more data and technical experience. Without data, towns and cities have difficulty devising a design that best suits their needs.
Furthermore, regulations are a considerable challenge for towns and cities to incorporate green infrastructure within boundary lines. An example Staddon communicated was that few jurisdictions worldwide have a straightforward process for regulating green infrastructure, unlike fire protection. Legal arrangements must be established before any company steps in to build, so it eliminates confusion about long-term responsibilities and the maintenance commitment green infrastructure composes. Within the U.S., there are currently no federal mandates for green infrastructure for areas that are less vulnerable than coastal areas.
Edwards believes Bidens Law is a waste and goes about greening in the wrong matter, while Staddon asserts why we as a country are nowhere near ready. However, both authors are mistaken, and here is why.
The revamping of America’s infrastructure is 100% needed and not deemed unnecessary and wasteful in any shape or form. Many citizens will prefer to pay more taxes if it guarantees that infrastructure will not pulverize beneath them.
Edwards believes Biden’s plan is not focused on greening the environment but is entirely inaccurate. While Biden may not focus directly on greening the environment, he is taking much-needed steps that other policymakers struggle to do. Biden structured the bill as a “spending bill,” so he would only need one side to be in favor which would not give the Democrats a say. He has deliberately split it into ten segments to kickstart a movement that will hopefully change history.
Staddon firmly believes that without data, the implementation of green infrastructure is incomprehensible. However, he is wrong. In my Green Water Town proposal, this is a perfect scenario. Builders, contractors, and workers should be given free rein when introducing green infrastructure within their town or city. Of course, all current local legislation must be followed, but that is where Staddon acknowledges there is an issue between contractors and legislators.
Today, there is little legislation to obey, so contractors have difficulty picking up contracts for green projects because they are scared that something will go wrong. Staddon concludes,
“Mainstreaming G.I. in cities in the United States not only requires the voluntary participation of citizens but also a change in governance paradigms.-In some cases, G.I. implementation has been possible by orchestrating bespoke planning systems from different layers of government, as the “Sponge City” case from China illustrates. After experiencing severe flooding in 2012, with damage that amounted to $1.6 billion USD, the Central Government of China launched the Sponge City Pilot Programme.”
Legislators, politicians, and lawmakers should collaborate to make green infrastructure a reality. It should not be a question if green infrastructure is worth it. It should be something other than something we constantly go back and forth debating. This is our future talking about and, quite possibly, even our children.
Since the birth of America, we have been installing innovative technology that runs our country. We have yet to stop and look back at what this technology is doing to our environment, and now the consequences are catching up to us. Green infrastructure should be rolled ferociously through America without question, and if, god forbid, someone tries to stop designers and creators from doing so, we must do whatever it takes to stop them.
References List
Advanced Drainage Systems – Pipe & Water Management Solutions. ADS Pipe. (n.d.). Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.adspipe.com/
CICEA, C., & PÎRLOGEA, C. (2011). GREEN SPACES AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN URBAN AREAS. Theoretical and Empirical Researches in Urban Management, 6(1), 83–92. http://www.jstor.org/stable/24873277
Edwards, C. (2021, May 26). 10 Reasons to Oppose an Infrastructure Package. Cato.org. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.cato.org/commentary/10-reasons-oppose-infrastructure-package
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.). Overcoming Barriers to Green Infrastructure. EPA. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.epa.gov/green-infrastructure/overcoming-barriers-green-infrastructure
McBride, J., & Siripurapu, A. (2021, November 8). The state of U.S. infrastructure. Council on Foreign Relations. Retrieved November 17, 2022, from https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/state-us-infrastructure
Ono, R. (2022, August 23). What is wave energy? Ocean Conservancy. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://oceanconservancy.org/blog/2022/08/23/wave-energy/?ea.tracking.id=18HPXWJBXX&gclid=CjwKCAiAvK2bBhB8EiwAZUbP1OQSrKzixy77thqfAnq_a5foahm-v6a_nOBLmYLETjVW2kegnihVkhoCGt4QAvD_BwE
Pavements. U.S. Department of Transportation/Federal Highway Administration. (n.d.). Retrieved November 3, 2022, from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/
Staddon, C. (2019, June 12). Challenges of mainstreaming green infrastructure in Built Environment Professions. Taylor & Francis. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09640568.2019.1605890
Stormwater. Philadelphia Water Department. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2022, from https://water.phila.gov/stormwater/
The United States Government. (2021, December 2). President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The White House. Retrieved November 18, 2022, from https://www.whitehouse.gov/bipartisan-infrastructure-law/#cleanwater
Water pollution what’s the problem with litter? – Indiana. (n.d.). Retrieved November 14, 2022, from https://www.carmel.in.gov/home/showdocument?id=182
YouTube. (2020). Chasing 500 Watts, Big Pelton Turbine. YouTube. Retrieved November 13, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOgO8z71D0o&t=16s&ab_channel=JoeMalovich.
alwaystired247
AnonymousStudent
azntaco
beforeverge
BigBabyBaller
bitagaming
breakingbad1820
Caravan
cinderella1013
davidbdale
Yankeelover18
fatboy489zt
giantsfan224
glacierfreeze21
gobirds17
green0728
gymrat230
Gir
jerseymikes1106
jesusisking1738
jetsfan806
Kenneth Alex Krug
manipulator66
mercythyhealer14
McCormick Karner
mochaatrain
oni
powerranger
peanut2348
pinkcottoncandy4
princess01430
redbird1123
rubes1256
shxrkbait
sillyinternetperson
soulpond47240
spatel8267
stingingcrib5
tacotyphoon
thepersonindisguise
usmnt23
worldofjuice999
xephos1
Counterintuitive Fall 2022 
I would like feedback on my flow and clarity please.
Flow and Clarity, coming up (not this minute, but up).
Green Infrastrture- The only hope for Survival
—There’s a misspelling in your title.
The lack of green infrastructure will make some cities and towns crumble. Green infrastructure is the approach of substituting existing infrastructure with new technology that meets the needs of current and future needs. Those who have successfully implemented green infrastructure will flourish as a town, but for those who still need to, it might be a good idea to start before it’s too late.
—The flow would start on the right foot if you begin with the Virtues of Green Infrastructure instead of the catastrophe of Lacking it.
The implementation of green infrastructure will help 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.
—You could start with the very simple “orienting” claim that GI is a stormwater management system.
Water pollution is predominantly caused by stormwater runoff that is permitted to flow without mitigation directly into major waterways without management. 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.
—”Affects” is very weak. It might even mean “improves.” You know it doesn’t. Your readers don’t.
Green Infrastructure will work alongside existing stormwater management that is currently collecting runoff from roads and parking lots and dispersing it elsewhere . Green infrastructure would help offset stress on current systems and process stormwater 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.
—OK
Towns still suffering with century-old gray infrastructure think new technology is either unavailable or too expensive; both are incorrect. Some municipalities still have combined systems where wastewater and stormwater are mixed into one pipe instead of having separate pipes. [the results are dangerously unhealthy.] 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.
—Needs a sentence in those brackets. Any time you inject a quote that takes a while to interpret, you need to INTERPRET IT IN ADVANCE. Then let the quote amplify your claim.
The implementation of green infrastructure would also help cut costs of electricity as it would decrease the workloads of current systems set in place. 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.
—It’s been a long time since you’ve mentioned costs, so it would be wise to begin with a brief note. “For cities that object green infrastructure is too expensive . . . .”
Green infrastructure also encourages a boost in physical activity and mental health. 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. [even this benefit pays cost dividends!] 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.
—Needs a reminder in the brackets that this benefit, too, has a money benefit.
While green infrastructure allows a huge boost of moral for the community, it also increases 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.
—Nice.
[Green infrastructure not only promotes a more active lifestyle for its citizens, but the newly developed technology will significantly help manage our stormwater. Green infrastructure introduces 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.
—Instead of that lengthy preamble, a simple few words about “an often overlooked part of any stormwater plan” being the nature of pavements.
Green infrastructure will be one of the only solutions that introduces green technology that will provide towns with many upgrades from their current stormwater management practices. Not only does green infrastructure propose new practices to upgrade existing gray infrastructure that is significantly outdated, but it also allows nature to start surrounding cities again.
—This whole paragraph should be replaced by one sentence: Green infrastructure allows nature to start surrounding cities again.
—I’m not sure this is the right place for that sentence.
Clean water management is possible but controversial because it requires money and imagination, both of which our governments lack. However, it is possible. I have some suggestions in my Green Water Town Proposal.
—Good transition to your Rebuttal section.
According to the City of Carmel Engineering Department, more than 60% of water pollution comes from trash and litter. Following this, my first implementation would be that all drains that lead to underground stormwater passageways must include appropriately maintained filters. They would be hung from the inside of the storm drain and act like a coffee filter focusing on objects like trash and large debris that may have fallen during a storm. The public works of the specified municipality will check this filter once a week, ensuring the drain functions properly and is clear of any debris the filter may have caught. The filter will be made of sustainable mesh plastic that is 100% recycled plastic. It is crucial that this mesh will be cost-effective and will not cost the town anything to purchase these required filters.
—That all sounds a little pricey to me. Mostly having crew check filters every week. How many would a town have?
Advanced Drainage Systems, or ADS, has already introduced a similar product. One of their fascinating products is their Flexstorm Lite model. The Flexstorm Lite is a steel frame made of 12 GA corrosion-resistant steel rated for 500 pounds independent of the storm drain already utilized in all towns. The steel frame supports a woven monofilament FX geotextile bag that achieves 82% filtration efficiency. Flexstorm also introduced a bypass system that once the bag is full of debris, water can still make its way through. Their systems are affordable for towns and cities looking to upgrade, and they can even be installed and maintained by one worker. This allows for efficiency to drastically improve while ensuring that harmful debris stay clear of our waterways.
—Tell me there are “smart” filters that report themselves clogged and I’ll be very impressed.
This system will allow most trash and debris to stay clear of our waterways, though that is not all. Communication is a crucial factor that is lacking in our society. Creating a database of all stormwater drains will allow workers to ensure that all drains are properly maintained and frequently checked. All the drains will be entered into a database that all public work workers can access. Citizens of the town will also have access to the database, allowing them to report issues and guarantee that backups are not created.
—Again, if they can be equipped to sense their own condition and report it, you’ve saved a lot of man-hours.
From above, all buildings owned by the town are required to collect all rainwater on the rooftop. It does not matter what material is used, but the rooftop must have a successful system that covers at least 500 sq feet of the rooftop. The rainwater collected from the system will be directed into one large PVC pipe run into a separate custodial closet. This closet must be either at ground level or halfway in the building. The closet will have a wheel and filtration system spaced out properly. Using gravity, the water will fall from our collection system installed on the roof down the pipe, hitting the wheel. The filtration system must be able to filter all large debris and harmful pollutants. This filter will not have to pass the standards of drinking water, but it must be able to be used for things like watering plants or washing cars.
—You take too long to express the benefits of capturing rainwater.
—Say in the first sentence that your plan will stop “wasting valuable rainwater” that other plans let run off into streams.
As demonstrated in Joe Malovich’s video, the force of the water will spin the wheel and generate electricity for the building to utilize. Although Malovich relies on pressurization to spin his turbine, we are more focused on gravity doing the work. Malovich proves that a system similar to his can be built and installed almost anywhere in the world.
—Introduce with “furthermore, the weight of the water falling from the roof will produce electricity for the town.”
Towns and cities should begin executing a program regarding rainwater harvesting systems. Suppose any residential or commercial building installs the system provided above will receive cost savings on their electric and water bills as the borough will not have to provide as many utilities.
—Here you have it, but it’s in the wrong place.
—Move this ABOVE the paragraphs about rooftop capture.
If the town is located near an ocean, it must build a desalination facility. The desalination unit will process salty water into clean drinking water that may also be used for other activities. The desalination unit will be made out of all recycled metal, plastic, and other materials. The town must hold an event or fundraiser to help offset the initial cost of the facility. One hundred mini energy-producing stations must be put in the ocean each year until it can successfully offset all energy consumed by the desalination facility. The energy-producing stations will be the size of beacons currently residing within oceans.
—The “must” comes on a little strong unless you’ve identified that towns have to meet your criteria to be certified as Green Water Towns.
They will be attached to the ocean floor and have a mechanism that allows them to bob up and down. When they bob up and down, it will generate electricity. It is up to the municipality whether all stations are linked and sent to the town or if the stations charge an onboard battery that will need to be checked and replaced with an empty charge battery once a week.
—Sounds pricey. Can the electricity be wired to land where it is stored in big battery banks?
Ryan Ono, author of “What is wave energy?” backs up my proposal by introducing what exactly wave energy is.
“Waves are created when wind blows over the ocean, moving water molecules at its surface, creating ripples and, eventually, waves. Waves can then drive generators that produce electricity using devices called wave energy converters (WECs).”
WECs are put in the ocean and bob up and down on the surface of the ocean. As the cylinder is in motion, they use pistons, hydraulic rams, and electrical generators to produce electricity. Waves are constantly crashing on and offshore, ensuring wave energy is a stable renewable energy source, unlike solar and wind. While we make our way back to shore, we will focus our attention underground.
—I thought you described the bobbing a couple paragraphs ago. Is this just repetition?
All stormwater pipes must be redirected to a facility within the municipality that will treat stormwater. Unlike the system on the town buildings that do not have to meet proper water drinking standards, this facility will have to meet these standards.
—This paragraph seems wildly out of place.
The facility will run entirely on renewable energy from our WECs implemented in our oceans. In case the WECs are slow on startup, the facility will utilize other renewable sources like wind and solar in case of extreme scenarios. It will also be able to process enough water no matter the rainstorm’s size or natural disaster. It will have state-of-the-art water tanks that will allow clean water storage for up to two weeks. Depending on the town’s size and the number of residents, more tanks may be needed.
—I see now, I think.
—Instead of naming the facility first, you could have moved from the bobbing to the electricity generation to “how we’ll use all that new, sustainable, electricity”: to run stormwater treatment facilities on land!
Traditionally in wastewater management, facilities use chemicals to treat wastewater. Instead of relying on chemicals, the towns must use natural options like plants and bacteria to treat their water. These plants will be grown within the town and part of a community outreach program. The plants and bacteria will be grown sustainably and utilize the water that is processed from our rain collection systems implemented on our town buildings. This facility will be a crucial part of the town because it will allow for another water source without depleting nearby lakes and reservoirs.
—Nice.
My Green Water Town proposal does not include every aspect of a perfect stormwater management plan but proposes new ideas that have never been heard of before. Technology will never limit implementation. As years go on, science will continually improve and meet the needs in demand. My proposal focuses mainly on physical technology, so someone else will have to figure out government mandates and commercial investments. My Green Water Town proposal will allow a municipality to understand what an ideal system may look like and what the standards are to be the best in the country.
—Maybe “practices that have not been widely implemented” instead of “crazy ideas nobody ever thought of before.” You want to encourage readers that your technology demands can be met today.
Across the U.S., the absence of advancements to our water infrastructure is causing poor hygiene and ill health effects to many Americans since it is hundreds of years old and developed for much smaller cities and populations.
—Now you can say, “As radical as some of these recommendations sound, failure to adopt them would be catastrophic.”
—Then the poor hygiene, flooding, wasted resources, etc.
America is quickly falling behind; without quick decisions, we will continue to spiral downhill. James Mcbride, the author of “The State of U.S. Infrastructure,” acknowledges that America is in desire need of upgrades. He states,
” The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has compiled regular “report cards” on the state of U.S. infrastructure since the 1980s. In its 2021 report [PDF], the ASCE found that the nation’s infrastructure averaged a “C-,” up from a “D+” in 2017 and the highest grade in twenty years. Still, the group estimated that there is an “infrastructure investment gap” of nearly $2.6 trillion this decade that, if unaddressed, could cost the United States $10 trillion in lost GDP by 2039.”
Commercial businesses, also known as private sectors worldwide, have provided exciting innovations that will give America a chance to bounce back, as found within my Green Water Town proposal. However, governments loathe implementing new technology since it requires tremendous capital investment.
—Flip these sentences.
—Governments are cheap and shortsighted, but the business sector is ready to partner and make investments.
In March of 2021, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, introduced a Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that would devote one trillion dollars to upgrading America’s crumbling infrastructure. [much of that money will fund partnerships with infrastructure companies] The Infrastructure law plans to focus on ten segments ranging from wifi speed upgrades to upgrading how public transportation runs. Although Biden introduced ten segments to upgrade America’s crumbling infrastructure, only one significant towards water is “No more Lead Pipes.” No more Lead Pipes introduces $55 billion of funding to help out the 10 million American households that do not have access to safe drinking water. This segment is long-awaited and offers government funding to fix severe public health problems.
—Use that bracketed space to remind readers business will be involved.
—Capitalism will find a profit in all these structural improvements.
However, with the introduction of Biden’s Infrastructure Law, Chris Edward believes we need to go in a different direction and could put the funding elsewhere. Edwards acknowledges that Bidens Infrastructure Law includes realistic goals but argues it is not green and contains a lot of unnecessary and wasteful spending.
—Call him a “misguided critic” when you introduce him the first time.
—Leave no doubt that he’s your rebuttal opponent.
Edwards argues that most of Bidens spending would go to facilities owned by states and private sectors. He believes they have all the means to fund infrastructure upgrades without federal aid. He uses an example from The National Conference of State Legislatures, stating that since 2013 over 33 states and the District of Columbia have created legislation that would increase gas taxes.
—You haven’t said he’s wrong once in this paragraph.
Edwards also illustrates that Bidens Infrastructure Law took the wrong side on greening our future. Edwards claims that Biden’s plan was supposed to help mitigate climate change through pro-environment user charges, which would include raising prices and taxes to help decrease the usage of water systems. However, Biden’s new law offered incentives for upgrading water systems or buying electric vehicles instead of trying to cut usage overall.
—You haven’t said Edward is wrong once in this paragraph.
To go along with Chris Edward’s [assertions?], Chad Staddon, one of the many contributors to “Challenges of mainstreaming green infrastructure in built environments professions, “firmly believes that implementing green infrastructure across America is too soon, and many concerns still exist.”
—Call him “another critic.”
Staddon states that there is significant uncertainty about how to go about planning, designing, implementing, and maintaining green infrastructure. Staddon’s first [objection] discussed is [what he calls insufficient] design standards. After interviewing many managers, he discovered limited capacity regarding the design phase: the design phase needs more data and technical experience. Without data, [he says] towns and cities have difficulty devising a design that best suits their needs.
—You let these critics hang around unrefuted too long, BB.
Furthermore, regulations are a considerable challenge for towns and cities to incorporate green infrastructure within boundary lines. An example Staddon communicated was that few jurisdictions worldwide have a straightforward process for regulating green infrastructure, unlike fire protection. Legal arrangements must be established before any company steps in to build, so it eliminates confusion about long-term responsibilities and the maintenance commitment green infrastructure composes. Within the U.S., there are currently no federal mandates for green infrastructure for areas that are less vulnerable than coastal areas.
—Maybe save this for AFTER you’ve refuted their rebuttable claims and acknowledge, with them, that regulations are a “considerable challenge for towns and cities to incorporate green infrastructure within boundary lines.”
—Agree with them that the country would benefit from nationwide federal mandates for every town of [you name the size] must have a green infrastructure plan.
Edwards believes Bidens Law is a waste and goes about greening in the wrong matter, while Staddon asserts why we as a country are nowhere near ready. However, both authors are mistaken, and here is why.
—I don’t like this block/block approach. It gives your adversaries WAY TOO MUCH AIR.
—Refute them a paragraph at a time. I’ve given some advice above on how to undercut their claims.
—Interleave your rebuttals as you share their misguided views.
The revamping of America’s infrastructure is 100% needed and not deemed unnecessary and wasteful in any shape or form. Many citizens will prefer to pay more taxes if it guarantees that infrastructure will not pulverize beneath them.
Edwards believes Biden’s plan is not focused on greening the environment but is entirely inaccurate. While Biden may not focus directly on greening the environment, he is taking much-needed steps that other policymakers struggle to do. Biden structured the bill as a “spending bill,” so he would only need one side to be in favor which would not give the Democrats a say. He has deliberately split it into ten segments to kickstart a movement that will hopefully change history.
—This one after you lay out Edward’s objections.
Staddon firmly believes that without data, the implementation of green infrastructure is incomprehensible. However, he is wrong. In my Green Water Town proposal, this is a perfect scenario. Builders, contractors, and workers should be given free rein when introducing green infrastructure within their town or city. Of course, all current local legislation must be followed, but that is where Staddon acknowledges there is an issue between contractors and legislators.
—This one after you share Staddon’s wrongheaded objections.
Today, there is little legislation to obey, so contractors have difficulty picking up contracts for green projects because they are scared that something will go wrong. Staddon concludes,
—This one is your concession, with Staddon’s assist, that we have work to do to change the nation’s vision.
“Mainstreaming G.I. in cities in the United States not only requires the voluntary participation of citizens but also a change in governance paradigms.-In some cases, G.I. implementation has been possible by orchestrating bespoke planning systems from different layers of government, as the “Sponge City” case from China illustrates. After experiencing severe flooding in 2012, with damage that amounted to $1.6 billion USD, the Central Government of China launched the Sponge City Pilot Programme.”
Legislators, politicians, and lawmakers should collaborate to make green infrastructure a reality. It should not be a question if green infrastructure is worth it. It should be something other than something we constantly go back and forth debating. This is our future talking about and, quite possibly, even our children.
—Good wrap-up.
Since the birth of America, we have been installing innovative technology that runs our country. [For a couple of centuries, it worked well enough.] We have yet to stop and look back at what this technology is doing to our environment, and now the consequences are catching up to us. Green infrastructure should be rolled ferociously through America without question, and if, god forbid, someone tries to stop designers and creators from doing so, we must do whatever it takes to stop them.
—It’s a little awkward, we have to stop them from stopping us from starting?
Helpful?