Sustainable Infrastructure
In a world facing water shortages and burgeoning populations, learning to live within our means isn't a luxury-it's a necessity. This section explains key concepts contained in sustainable development and explores how they apply to the water industry. If you have a technical question we can help. Call NESC toll free at (800) 624-8301 or e-mail info@mail.nesc.wvu.edu and ask for technical assistance.
The NSFC is the only national resource of its type dealing with small community wastewater infrastructure and hosts the State Onsite Regulators Alliance (SORA) and Captains of Industry (COI) Conference to encourage sustainable options for wastewater infrastructure.
Liquid Assets: The Documentary (Web) - In 2008, NESC joined forces with Penn State Public Broadcasting (PSPB) in a public education and awareness initiative on U.S. drinking water, wastewater, and storm water infrastructure. Find out more about this amazing documentary at http://liquidassets.psu.edu/.
Our Free Products
- Links open Web sites or pdf files and are in order by year beginning with the most current.
- Federal Programs Use Program Assessment Rating Tool (pdf) -by Caigan M. McKenzie, Small Flows magazine, Spring/Summer 2007 - The Program Assessment Rating is a questionnaire used to evaluate the performance and management of the approximately 1,000 federal programs that are funded each year.
- Self-Help Virginia: Helping Communities Help Themselves to Water (pdf) -by Tamra Talmadge-Anderson and Jimmy Wallace, On Tap magazine, Winter 2005 - Running water is a convenience most of us take for granted as we use it for drinking, cooking, cleaning, and other daily activities. Unfortunately, there are still some communities in Virginia without running water in their homes.
- Sustainable Development: When Enough Is Enough (Web) -by Mark Kemp-Rye, On Tap magazine, Summer 2003 - This article explains key concepts contained in the subject sustainable development and explores how they apply to the water industry.
- Show Me the Money (And How to Manage It) (Web) -by Mark Kemp-Rye, On Tap magazine, Fall 2003 - Whether it's securing funds for major infrastructure projects or seeking better ways to keep a system solvent, money is at the heart of many small water system concerns.
EPA Free Downloads
- The free products, tools, and online resources below are provided by our funding sponsor, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These links will open new web pages.
- Sustaining Our Nation's Water Infrastructure (pdf)-Highlights work being done to support the Four Pillars Approach (vist EPA sites below):
- (1) Better Management of Water and Wastewater Utilities,
- (2) Rates that Reflect the Full Cost Pricing of Services,
- (3) Efficient Water Use, and
- (4) Watershed Approaches to Protection.
- Free EPA Video: Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) Sustainable Water Infrastructure Video and Case Studies