APA's Water Working Group: Findings

Session S456

APA 2016 National Planning Conference Bill Cesanek, AICP: Chair WWG

Vicki Elmer, PhD, Univ. of Oregon Theresa Connor, PE, Colorado State Univ.

Danielle Gallet, Chicago Metropolitan Planning Council Mary Ann Dickinson, Alliance for Water Efficiency

APA 2016 Survey of Planners and Water

APA Water Working Group: Findings Vicki Elmer, PhD: Presenter

University of Oregon

American Planning Association April 3, 2016 Phoenix, AZ

Introduction & Methods

• Water Working Group developed survey

• Sent to APA members in Feb 2015

• 928 responses • Preliminary results

– Part 1 the entire sample

– Part 2 smaller sample of 307

Who answered? Split between wet and dry states

Who answered? Predominantly local level planners

– City/county (65%), regional/ state (22%), national (5%), reservations, watersheds etc (8%)

– Public planning agency (54%); private consulting( 20%); non-profits (5%); water utilities (5%); (16%) education

– 77% from metropolitan areas over 250K

30%

25%

22%

11%

12%

Type of County Where Respondents Work

Central Metro 1millPlus

Fringe Metro 1Mill+

Med Metro 250K-999K

Small Metro

Rural

They know Water & Work with Water Issues

• 85% work on water (a little to a lot)

• Including…. – Stormwater mgmt (76%) – Flood control (54%) – Wastewater (45%) – Water supply (40%) – Waterway restoration (36%) – Aquatic ecosystem health (31%)

Respondents say: Water is among top ten planning issues today

• Top or top ten (91%) • Concerns are:

– Stormwater mgmt (82%)

– Flooding (70%) – Water supply (67%) – Environmental water

resource degradation (62%)

• Varies by wet state/dry state (supply in dry states, flooding in wet & dry states)

Respondents say: Problems with Water and Planning

• Comprehensive plans, development regulations do NOT adequately address water issues—project reviews a bit better

• Planners NOT involved enough in water decisions, due to agency fragmentation --(see qualitative responses)

• Water utilities do NOT adequately coordinate with planners about water infrastructure projects

Respondents say: Collaboration with utilities important • Consultation on development projects &

supply development (82%) • Joint decision-making on projects & supply

development (63.1%) • Regulatory development (63.4%) • Research 39.3% • (see qualitative responses)

• Next Slides from Smaller Sample: Part 2

Sustainable communities have incorporated water into:

• Comprehensive Plans

• Development Regs

• Project Reviews

Comprehensive Plans of Responders Have Water Provisions

• Flood plain (76%), • Stormwater (72%) • Watershed (68%) • Water supply (58%) • Water quality (55%) • Nat resources(52%) • Septic tanks (35%)

Innovative Water Solutions in Responder’s Comp Plans

• Water Reuse (31%) • Water-Energy-Waste

(16%) • Food-Energy-Water

Nexus (7%)

Development Regulations for Water of Responders

• Stormwater (91%) • Water source protection

(74%) • Natural water systems

preservation (68%) • Green infrastructure

(60%) • Water supply (56%) • Water conservation

regulations (56%) • Efficient use of water

(50%)

Innovative Water Solutions in Development Regulations of Responders

• Water Recycling from Centralized Facility (25%)

• Gray Water Regulations (15%)

• Black Water Regulations (5%)

Project Reviews and Water

• Stormwater most important issue (76%)

• Water Supply (58%) • Flooding (49%) • San Sewers (37%) • Water conservation

and reuse typically part of new development projects (36%)

0.0%

10.0%

20.0%

30.0%

40.0%

50.0%

60.0%

70.0%

80.0%

1

StormwaterStormwater

Water supply Watersupply

Flooding Flooding

Sanitary sewersSanitary sewers

Other (pleasespecify) Other(please specify)

Planners say: Need knowledge & Best Practices for Water

• Planners’ lack of knowledge about water an impediment to planning practice

• Information about integrating water into planning practice, and case studies most desired

• More information wanted about WWG

Survey of Academic Planning Departments (ACSP & APA)

• Survey sent to 103 planning department heads in US in Feb—47 responses

• Planning profession in their state not involved enough in water (78%), but sufficient opportunity for students to learn about water and planning at their university (69%)

• To enrich water offerings, a textbook for planners (49%), individual modules or videos (47%)

• Topics: watershed management (77%), stormwater management (73%), water finance (65%), Water policy (62%), wastewater alternatives (58%), and water supply (54%).

APA Water Policy Guidance Exciting opportunities to integrate water systems

into urban planning

19

WHAT IS A WATER SENSITIVE CITY?

Source: International Water Association, Urban Water Charter, Draft Executive Summary

Discussion leading towards “Urban Water Charter”:

20

APA POLICY GUIDANCE

APA’s Policy Guidance for Five Categories: 1. Water Supply

2. Water Quality

3. Water-related Hazards

4. Ecology & Hydrology

5. Integrated Management

21

APA POLICY GUIDANCE – WATER SUPPLY

Guiding Policies: • Adequate Supply • Costs • Conservation

Policy Outcomes:

• Water Recycling • OnSite Water Treatment Systems • Water Conservation Codes • Landscape Codes • Urban System as Water Catchment

22

APA POLICY GUIDANCE – WATER QUALITY

Guiding Policies: • Pollution Prevention • Buffers & other Low Impact Design techniques • Floodplains

Policy Outcomes:

• Source Water Protection • Use of Low Impact Design techniques • Groundwater protection • Maintain aging infrastructure

23

APA POLICY GUIDANCE – WATER RELATED HAZARDS

Guiding Policies: • Minimize Risk • Accurate Information • Natural Solutions preferred to structural controls

Policy Outcomes:

• Update Flood Maps • Address Sea Level Rise risks in Coastal Communities • Participation in FEMA Flood Insurance Programs • Create central hazards map

24

APA POLICY GUIDANCE – ECOLOGY & HYDROLOGY Includes:

• Wetlands • Stormwater • Wastewater • Irrigation • Energy • Transportation

Policy Outcomes:

• Mitigation Programs • Manage volume, timing, quality and quantity • Integrated approach

25

APA POLICY GUIDANCE – INTEGRATED APPROACH ONE WATER MANAGEMENT TRANSITION FRAMEWORK

Water Supply

City

Water supply access & security

Supply hydraulics

Cumulative Socio-Political Drivers

Service Delivery Functions

Based on Brown, Keath & Wong, 2008

Sewered City

Public Health Protection

Sewage Schemes

Drained City

Flood Protection

Drainage, Channelization,

some Dams

Social amenity, environmental

protection

Point & diffuse source pollution

management

Waterways City

Limits on Natural Resources

Diverse, fit-for-purpose sources &

conservation, promoting waterway

protection

Water Cycle City

Water Sensitive

City

Intergenerational equity, resilience to

climate change

Adaptive, multi-functional

infrastructure & urban design reinforcing

water sensitive behaviors

26

TRANSITIONING TO A ONE WATER APPROACH:

Six Key Elements: • Strong leadership and vision from senior

positions at both political and executive levels;

• Partnerships between departments and collaborating organizations;

• Organizational culture that embraces the One Water approach;

• Transparent engagement with the community stakeholders;

• A conducive economic environment for private investment;

• A conducive regulatory and legislative environment for encouraging public and private participation

Contact: Theresa Connor, PE theresa.connor@colostate.edu Office| 970.491.4063

https://erams.com/UWIN/

Thank you.

metroplanning.org @metroplanners

APA Water Working Group

Education Initiatives for Planning Practitioners

Danielle Gallet

Chicago Metropolitan Planning Council

metroplanning.org @metroplanners

Education for planning professionals

metroplanning.org @metroplanners

metroplanning.org @metroplanners

Create and provide informational and educational opportunities about water resources to planning professionals in order for them to help address water resource challenges in the 21st Century, by forging cross-industry, sustainable and resilient solutions for communities.

2 Target Audiences: • Professional, working planners • Elected and appointed officials in the planning industry

Purpose of the initiative

metroplanning.org @metroplanners

Webinars Publications Conferences Online Course

Educational mediums being explored

metroplanning.org @metroplanners

Conferences • Organized water-related session tracks at national and section

conferences to provide current and developing best practices for planners about water resource management.

Webinars • Develop and host regular webinars on hot topics in water

resource management for APA members.

Possible Initiatives

metroplanning.org @metroplanners

Publications • Work with APA staff to develop and coordinate regular water-

related content in various publications including: – Planning Magazine – PAS Reports – PAS Memos

Online Course • Curate an online training course for planners about water

resources including water supply, wastewater and stormwater management.

Possible Initiatives (cont.)

metroplanning.org @metroplanners

Questions?

metroplanning.org @metroplanners

Thank you

Danielle Gallet dgallet@metroplanning.org

Thank you.

APA 2016 National Planning Conference APA’s Water Working Group: Findings Mary Ann Dickinson, Alliance for Water Efficiency

Devising Some Water Planning Best Practices

What is Our Current Situation? Planners and water utilities don’t much

engage Separate silos Planners don’t usually want to get involved in

water supply, wastewater issues Storm water the exception Utility managers are loath to get involved in

planning proceedings “Duty to serve” the paramount philosophy

How Do We Resolve This? Create an open regular dialogue between the

water and wastewater providers and community planning staff and commissioners

Link their input in a formal process All water utilities participating in community-

wide planning is key APA Water Working Group would like to help

and develop some guidance on joint planning best practices

Some Ideas for Planners Water should be a mandatory element in the

general plan Water and wastewater utilities should be active

participants in developing/revising the general plan

Water should be considered as a “One Water” resource in order to manage wastewater and storm water into potential water resources

Updated planning projections should be shared with water utilities to enable more accurate resource planning

Some Ideas for Water Utilities Capital facility planning should be shared with

planning staff Water expertise should be provided to the

planning staff during site plan review to promote optimal source protection and storm water recharge

Consumer communications should link to community planning objectives

An offset policy for new development in water-stressed communities should be considered where the water utility would be a key partner in that policy’s implementation

Net Blue: Water-Neutral Growth

3-year project to promote sustainable communities

Develop a national model template planning and zoning ordinance where communities can create a water demand offset approach

Will work with 7 partner cities to pilot approach

APA Conference Session: Sunday, April 3, 4:00 pm, Room 128

We Want Your Ideas!

Mary Ann Dickinson

Alliance for Water Efficiency maryann@a4we.org