One Water Leadership SummitSPOTLIGHT: Atlanta

Moderator: John Batten, Executive Vice President, ARCADIS

Panelists:Jo Ann J. Macrina, PE, Commissioner, Dept of Watershed Management, City of Atlanta

Margaret E. Tanner, PE, Deputy Commissioner, Dept of Watershed Management, City of AtlantaCatherine Owens, PE, Senior Civil Engineer, Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.

Denise Quarles, Director, Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, City of AtlantaStacy Funderburke, Real Estate Associate, The Conservation Fund

From Federal Enforcement to Federal Partnerships

Department of Watershed ManagementDepartment of Watershed Management

City of Atlanta Watershed Management

• Serves population of 1.2 million (450,000 night)– Adequate water supply and treatment capacity

• 2 ½ water treatment plants, 112 MGD (2 plants)

– Adequate wastewater treatment plant capacity• 4 wastewater treatment plants, 184 MGD• 6 CSO facilities

• Regional provider; 6 wholesale govt. customers• 2,750 mi of water mains• 1,900+ mi of sewer (50-100 yrs old)

– 15% combined, 85% separated

• 1,475 positions• Annual budget $595M

Department of Watershed ManagementDepartment of Watershed Management

Watershed Management – Pre 2000

• Long-term system under-investment• Failed water utility privatization

– Consent Orders• Flawed stormwater utility fee imposed

– $7 million refunded• 2 Wastewater Consent Decrees

– 100+ overflows/yr at CSO facilities– 1,000 sewer spills in year 2000

• Poor image– Insensitive– Inactive – Incompetent– Irresponsible

Department of Watershed Management

CSO Consent Decree Success

• Consent Decree issued Sept 1998, full compliance by Nov 2008

• Reduced CSOs from 100/yr to 4/yr

• Total cost: $711M

West Area CSO Tunnel Boring Machine

Department of Watershed Management

SSO Consent Decree

• Consent Decree issued Dec 1999, full compliance by July 2014 (*extension)

• Phased Approach to Capital Improvement Program– Phase I - Sewer System Evaluation Survey (1600

miles)– Phase II - Sewer Rehabilitation– Phase III - Sewer Capacity Relief– Total -- $1.4 Billion Capital Program

• Preventive Maintenance Program

Department of Watershed Management

Post – 2000 Highest W&S Rates in US

Department of Watershed Management

Compliance at a Price

71% decrease in number of spills to waters of the state

Success!

Department of Watershed ManagementDepartment of Watershed Management

Mayor Kasim Reed

Commitment to Community•Provide effective solutions for real issues•Community involvement•Take action and follow throughCommitment to Sustainable Initiatives•Focus on green solutions•Focus on decreased carbon footprint•Focus on reduced energy consumptionCommitment to Environmental Protection•Comply with all regulations•Manage infrastructure responsibly•Build partnerships with state and federal agencies

Department of Watershed Management

Achieving the Goals through New Initiatives

• Financial flexibility with CD extension– 13 year extension; longest in U.S. (1999-2027)– Approx $450MM work remaining– Ability to balance all needs

• Integrated Water Resources– Data analysis – Utilize technology

• Sustainability & Green Infrastructure

Department of Watershed Management

Promoting Sustainability

• Goal of green infrastructure - mimic the natural hydrologic function – preserving conservation areas– reducing impervious surfaces– installing aesthetically-pleasing structural measures such as

• green roofs, vegetated swales, permeable pavement, infiltration planters, cisterns, and rain gardens.

• An alternative approach to managing stormwater runoff• Decreasing energy consumption• Waste to energy program• Enhancing aesthetics and public access/use

Department of Watershed Management

Southeast Atlanta Green Infrastructure Initiative

Background:•Homes built in historic stream channels; low lying areas where stormwater naturally drain•Stream channels were piped; floodplains still exist due to pipe overflows from capacity limitations•Combined sewer area out of conveyance capacity

– Limited capacity often exceeded by high rainfall events– Stormwater runoff exacerbated by higher amounts of impervious cover running

across hard surfaces at greater velocities – Over time, systems cannot accommodate developments

•Partial improvements made, leaving other problems •Typical solutions can be disruptive, cost prohibitive

Department of Watershed ManagementDepartment of Watershed Management

Computer Simulation of Existing Conditions 25 year 4 hour “Critical” Storm

Drainage Area Total Area

(acres)

Impervious %

Mechanicsville/ Peoplestown 900 65%

Summerhill 505 58%

Grant Park 380 42%

Englewood Manor 715 42%

Assessment of Issues

Department of Watershed Management

Phased Approach & Community Input

• Action Plan– Immediate Response – Completed w/in 30 days– Short Term Projects – Completed w/in 6 months– Intermediate Projects - NTP: Nov.1, 2013– Long Term Projects - In Design

• Follow-up Meetings with Community– Communicate phased approach– Inform them of alternatives & schedule

Department of Watershed Management

Short-Term Projects – March 2013 completed

Department of Watershed Management

• Media Lot Vault

• Permeable Pavers

Intermediate Projects

Media Lot Vault

Department of Watershed Management

Intermediate Projects – Permeable Pavers

• ~6 miles of permeable pavers: – Mechanicsville– Peoplestown– Summerhill

AfterBefore

Department of Watershed Management

Long-Term Projects

• Three additional storage vaults• Detention Ponds• Cistern at Braves Stadium

Connally Storage 1 & 2

Columbia Apts

Department of Watershed Management

Urban Waters Federal Partnership

• “Through our partnership, we will revitalize urban waters and the communities that surround them, transforming overlooked assets into treasured centerpieces and drivers of urban revival.” www.EPA.gov

Department of Watershed Management

Proctor Creek Watershed

• DWM Activities– Streamwalks– WQ data– Spill response program– FOG education– Future BMPs– Future Green Infrastructure projects

Department of Watershed Management

Atlanta Green Infrastructure Projects

Green RoofCity Hall

Rainwater HarvestingSouthface

Rain GardenAdair Park

Pervious PavingEnglish Park

BioswaleFernbank Museum

Stormwater PlantersJuniper Street (Proposed)

Pervious ConcreteFelder Street

Stormwater Bump-outWhitehall Terrace

Atlanta BeltLine Key Project Elements:•22 miles of modern streetcar transit

•33 miles of multi-use trails

•1,300 acres of parks

•5,600 units of affordable housing

•1,100 acres of brownfield remediation

•Public Art

•Historic Preservation

•Economic Development

Historic Fourth Ward Park and Skatepark•17 acres•Opened June 2011•2-acre lake that doubles as stormwater capacity relief •Outdoor amphitheater•Modern playground with splashpad•Open, passive lawns•Elegant walkways

Atlanta BeltLine Investments$362 million: Total funds invested to date•$157 million: Atlanta BeltLine Tax Allocation District (TAD)•$121 million: City of Atlanta bond funds (Watershed, Parks, Public Works)•$22 million: Federal (transit and trail)•$21 million: Federal (streets and streetscapes within the TAD)•$41 million: Private philanthropic

Awards and Accomplishments•Livable Centers Initiative Grant ($4 million) (2012)•Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Grant ($1.47 million) (2012)•Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) “Development of Excellence Award” for Historic Fourth Ward Park (2012)•Atlanta Business Chronicle’s “Land Deal of the Year” for the Eastside Trail (2012)•Environmental Communications Award Grand Prize (2013)•Atlanta Urban Design Commission “Adaptive Reuse Award” for the Eastside Trail (2013)•Great Places in Georgia “Public Spaces” Award for D. H. Stanton Park (2011)•Atlanta Urban Design Commission Award for Historic Fourth Ward Park (2011) and D. H. Stanton Park (2012)•GAASLA Merit Award For D. H. Stanton Park (2011) and Historic Fourth Ward Park (2012)•ULI Project of the Year (2013)

Eastside Trail•2.25 miles•Opened October 2012•First trail segment built in old railroad corridor•Connects five intown neighborhoods, three major parks, and bike paths•Corridor preserved for transit•Over 600 large trees planted

Environmental remediation:•73 acres of brownfields remediated•Environmental Justice Policy adopted by Board of Directors (August 2012)

Master Planning•All ten subarea master plans adopted by Atlanta City Council (April 2012)

Power to Change is Atlanta’s citywide sustainability initiative

Full Circle Commitment360 success that can be measured 365 days a year⁰

• 5 Stakeholder groups around…

• 10 Impact Areas with…

• 30+ Measures of success and…

• 100+ Initiatives.. Green infrastructure is 1 initiative but it affects multiple impact areas

Atlanta ACTS Citywide….Green Infrastructure for the Urban Community

Academia Nonprofit Atlantan

Spelman College

Water Efficient Landscaping • 59.52% reduction in the use of

potable water for landscaping. • 39,950 gallons savings of potable

water annually; avoiding $1,469 a year in water costs.

Residential

Potable Water System

• First installed under

rainwater ordinance.

• 49,400 gallon/50 inches rainfall potential

Southface Energy Institute

Green Roof• Entire building’s water savings

are an 84% overall reduction in potable water consumption compared to a baseline commercial building of the same size, saving 112,781 gallons/year.

Atlanta ACTS Citywide….Green Infrastructure for the Urban Community

Business Business

Home Depot

Rainwater Holding Tank• 500,000 gallon tank• Landscape irrigation retro-

fits saving water too

Epsten Group

Green roof system• 91% of sites

stormwater captured, treated and infiltrated on site

• LEED Platinum facility

Government

Fire Station #16

Rain Garden• Sized to capture the first

1.2” of runoff from stations downspouts

Expanding Atlanta’s Greenspace

    

Land Acquisition

Facilitating Green InfrastructureBest Practices

Philadelphia Peer Exchange

City of Atlanta Green Infrastructure Task Force

Conservation LeadershipNetwork

Engaging Communities in Green Infrastructure

Seeing Multiple Benefits of a Green Infrastructure Approach

Community Leaders Trip - Milwaukee