Study Proposes Expanded Concept of Urban Watershed
Within the next two decades, the percent of the world’s population living in cities will grow from 50 to 60 percent, and the resulting urban water issues will be a growing challenge. A new U.S. Forest Service study,The Urban Watershed Continuum; Evolving spatial and temporal dimensions, proposes an expanded view of the complex world of urban water.The study presents a new conceptual framework addressing characteristics of watersheds affected by urban land uses, demonstrating the need for integration in water management and helping urban water managers make the connections between the built and natural environment.
Learn more at http://nrs.fs.fed.us/news/release/expanded-concept-urban-watershed.
Research Foundation Analyzes Water Sector Trends
The Water Research Foundation has published a report to help water utilities cope with change over the next two decades.Forecasting the Future: Progress, Change, and Predictions for the Water Sector, identifies environmental, technological, economic, business and social-political trends expected to have impacts on the water sector over the next 10 to 20 years. The environmental trends include energy demand, climate change, natural disasters and total water management. The report lists such “strategic imperatives” as communications, partnerships, total systems view and adaptive planning.
Foundation subscribers can access the report at http://www.waterrf.org/Pages/Projects.aspx?PID=4232.
Key Asset Data Products Aid Asset Management Programs
Products from a newly released project of the Water Research Foundation and Water Environment Research Foundation are designed to help utility personnel determine their asset data needs and develop their asset management programs.Key Asset Data for Water and Wastewater Utilities, includes an asset hierarchy list, performance indicators and a glossary related to key drinking water and wastewater system assets, including above and below-ground assets.A report and templates found on the WaterRF website allow users to download and modify the content to meet their unique asset management programs, goals and objectives.
Information can be found at www.waterrf.org by searching for project #4187.
Fact Sheet Highlights Economic Benefits Of Protecting Watersheds
Healthy watersheds provide a variety of ecological services that are expensive and at times impossible to recreate once compromised.A new EPAFact Sheet: The Economic Benefits of Protecting Healthy Watershedspresents the economic benefits of protecting healthy watersheds by demonstrating how watershed protection can reduce capital costs for water treatment plants and reduce damages to property and infrastructure due to flooding, thereby avoiding future costs.Examples also show that protecting healthy watersheds can generate revenue through property value premiums, recreation and tourism.
The fact sheet is online: http://water.epa.gov/polwaste/nps/watershed/ecoben_factsheet.cfm.