Green City, Clean Waters Implementing Philadelphia’s Combined Sewer Overflow Long Term Control Plan Update www.phillywatersheds.org/ltcpu

PHILADELPHIA’S HISTORIC CREEKS

Natural vs. Urban Stormwater Drainage

Stormwater infiltrates into the ground

Plants and trees work to absorb stormwater

Water hits impervious surface and runs off roofs, streets, parking lots etc.

Runoff goes into the sewers

http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/stream_restoration/Images/scrhimage/chap3/fig3-21.jpg

40% evaporation

10% runoff

Natural Ground Cover

30% evaporation

55% runoff

City Setting 70-100% impervious surface area

25% shallow infiltration 25% deep

infiltration

10% shallow infiltration 5% deep

infiltration

60% of Philadelphia 40% of Philadelphia

Downspout

Storm drain

Downspout

Storm drain

Outfall pipe to creek

Combined Sewer Separate Sewer

Wet Weather Wet Weather

Outfall pipe to creek

TYPES OF SEWERS IN PHILADELPHIA

LOCATION OF US CSO COMMUNITIES

821 CSO communities in 32 states

NATIONAL CSO CONTROL POLICY OF 1994

• Expedite Compliance with the Clean Water Act – Must attain WQS

• Use – Swimming, Aquatic Life, Ind. & Ag. supply

• Criteria – Numeric and Narrative • Anti-degradation policy

• Control Discharges from CSOs – NPDES Permitting Process – Authorization to Discharge to Waterways

• Wet Weather Water Quality Act of 2000

CSO LONG TERM CONTROL PLAN OF 1997

• Policy Required CSS communities to develop and implement a Long Term Control Plan (LTCP)

• Implemented in 3 Phases – Nine Minimum Controls (NMCs) – Capital Program ~$200Million – Watershed Based Planning Initiative

• To improve Water Quality • Attain Water Quality Standards

Watershed-Wide Issues • Water Quality issues • Odors • Low Dissolved Oxygen • Bank Erosion • Lack of Channel Habitat and

Biological Diversity • Wetland Degradation • Poor Public Access to

Streams • Dumping and Trash • Vandalism

INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PLANNING

Section 1: Introduction and Background Section 2: Public Participation Section 3: System Characterization Section 4: Problem Analysis and Goal Setting Section 5: Methods and Procedures Sections 6, 7, 8: Potential Control Measures Section 9: Alternatives Development and Evaluation Section 10: Final Selection and Development of Recommended Plan, LTCP Water Quality Approach, Implementation Schedule Section 11: Financial Capability Analysis and Financing Plan Section 12: Post-Construction Compliance Monitoring Proposal

2009 CSO LONG-TERM CONTROL PLAN

• CSO Long Term Control Plan Update to DEP/EPA on Sept. 1, 2009

• Improves water quality

• Advances City-wide Sustainability Program

• Maintains and upgrades one of the nation’s oldest infrastructure systems

• Improves public health and neighborhood quality of life

• Transforms river and stream corridors into recreation destinations and green open space for citizens

• Preserves and restores habitat for aquatic species

• Maximizes environmental return on every dollar spent

GREEN CITY, CLEAN WATERS

TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE Economic/Environmental/Social Benefits

• Economic Benefits • Costs • Jobs • Property Value

• Environmental Benefits • Ecological Benefits • Air Quality • Energy Savings • Carbon Footprint

• Social Benefits • Recreation • Heat Stress Mortality • Aesthetics

2009 LTCPU Submittal 2011 CONSENT ORDER & AGREEMENT - PADEP

Consent Order & Agreement – Establishment of WQBEL – Stream/Wetland restoration

removed – $200M additional funds – Additional 5-years – $1.2Billion (present value) – more than 34% ‘Greening’ – Approximately 12 ‘Deliverables’ – Evaluation and Adaptation Plans

every 5 years

June 1, 2011 June 1, 2036 25-year Program

“[Philadelphia] has earned a place as a national and global leader on sustainable innovation and clean water protection.” Lisa Jackson, EPA Administrator

April 10, 2012: The U.S. EPA and the City of Philadelphia joined in a partnership to advance green infrastructure for urban wet weather pollution control. This partnership demonstrates EPA’s strong support for sustainable storm water management yielding multiple benefits for community livability and other urban environment improvements.

$1.67 billion

$345 million

Green Stormwater Infrastructure

Adaptive Management

Wet Weather Treatment Plant Upgrades

GREEN CITY, CLEAN WATERS

$420 million

A range of soil-water-plant systems that intercept stormwater, infiltrate a portion of it into the ground, evaporate and transpire a portion of it into the air, and in some cases slowly release a portion of it back into the sewer system

GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE

• Acknowledges the symbiotic relationship between land use and water resources

Cliveden Park Herron Playground Free Library of Philadelphia

• Capacity Expansion at all 3 Wastewater Treatment Plants

– Over 1.4 BGD wet weather capacity • 215 MGD wet weather capacity by means of secondary treatment

bypass • 60 MGD increase in secondary treatment capacity • 50 MGD increase in the secondary treatment capacity

WET WEATHER WATER QUALITY IMPROVEMENTS

DRY WEATHER WATER QUALITY, AESTHETICS, RECREATION

• Trash and Debris Removal; Solids and Floatables Control

• Enhancement of Public Access and Recreation Opportunities

• Sewer Rehabilitation

• Outfall Consolidation and Relocation

STREAM CORRIDOR RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION

• Restoration of stream beds and banks

• Creation/Restoration of Wetlands

• Improvements to Fish Passage

Natural Stream Channel Design and Sewer Protection

Proposed Stream Corridor and Preservation Sites

COA Deliverables

Deliverable Name Deliverable Date

Implementation and Adaptive Management Plan December 1, 2011 Green Infrastructure Maintenance Manual Development Process

Plan June 1, 2012

Comprehensive Monitoring Plan December 1, 2012

Facility Concept Plan for NE WPCP June 1, 2013

Facility Concept Plan for SE WPCP June 1, 2013

Facility Concept Plan for SW WPCP June 1, 2013

Updated Nine Minimum Controls Report June 1, 2013

Tributary Water Quality Model – Bacteria June 1, 2013

Tributary Water Quality Model - Dissolved Oxygen June 1, 2014

Green Infrastructure Maintenance Manual - First Edition June 1, 2014

Tidal Waters Water Quality Model - Bacteria June 1, 2015

Tidal Waters Water Quality Model - Dissolved Oxygen June 1, 2015

Implementation and Adaptive Management Plan

A strategy for the first years of Implementation

Delivery: December 1, 2011

Metric: All

Adaptive Management

Capital Projects Planning

Policy and Streamlining

Operations and Maintenance

Program Monitoring

Public Outreach

Natural Environment Monitoring

Tidal

Tributary

Groundwater

Rainfall

Sewer System Monitoring

Sewer System Flows

CSO Discharge

Model Outputs

Green Infrastructure Performance

Soil and Vegetation Underground Infrastructure

Comprehensive Monitoring Plan

Delivery: December 1, 2012

Metric: Greened Acres

Monitoring, Modeling and Inspections

Increase wet weather treatment capacity to over

1.4 billion gallons per day

Delivery: June 1, 2013

Metric: Overflow Reduction

Facility Concept Plans for Plant Expansion

50 MGD •Increase in secondary treatment capacity

60 MGD •Increase secondary treatment capacity

215 MGD •Increase wet weather capacity using secondary bypass

Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Cobbs Creek Delaware River Schuylkill River

Water Quality Modeling Delivery: 2013-2015

Metric: Progress Evaluation Tool

Assess the program and evaluate alternative implementation options

Bacteria

Dissolved Oxygen

Green Infrastructure Maintenance Manual

Delivery: June 1, 2014

Metric: Greened Acres

Defining maintenance activities, frequency and

efficiencies for long-term success of each type of

green stormwater infrastructure

Water Quality Based Effluent Limit (WQBEL)

Metric Units Cumulative amount

as of Year 25 (2036)

NE / SW / SE WPCP upgrade: Design &

Construction Percent complete 100%

Miles of interceptor lined Miles 14.5

Overflow Reduction Volume

Million Gallons per year 7,960

Equivalent Mass Capture TSS / BOD / Fecal

Coliform Percent 85%

Total Greened Acres Greened Acres 9,564

29

Opportunities & Barriers

Year Greened Acres Square Miles % Impervious cover removed

5 750 1 3% 10 2,100 3 8% 15 3,800 6 14% 20 6,400 10 23% 25 9,600 15 34%

GREEN STORMWATER GOALS 25-Year Implementation of Green City, Clean Waters

WHAT IS A GREENED ACRE?

Greened Acre: acre of impervious cover that is retrofitted to utilize green stormwater infrastructure which manages stormwater using source controls such as infiltration, evaporation, transpiration, decentralized storage and reuse.

GA = IC * Wd • IC is the impervious cover utilizing green stormwater infrastructure

(acres). This quantity can include the area of the stormwater management feature itself, as well as the area that drains to it.

• Wd is the depth of water over the impervious surface that can be physically stored in the facility (inches). Green stormwater infrastructure designs will be aimed at controlling at least 1.0 inch of runoff, and up to 1.5 inches of runoff, unless otherwise deemed feasible by engineering design.

• One Greened Acre is equivalent to one inch of managed stormwater from one acre of drainage area or 27,158 gallons of managed stormwater.

• Enforce strong stormwater regulations on development

• Create stormwater billing structure that rewards good practices

• Direct eight ambitious and innovative Green Programs to invest in green stormwater infrastructure

9,500+ IMPERVIOUS ACRES CONVERTED TO “GREENED ACRES”

Private Lands • Industrial/Commercial/Institutional • Homes • Parking • Alleys, Driveways and Walkways

Public Lands • Streets • Schools • Public Facilities • Open Spaces

Springside School “Water Wall” and Rain Garden

Saylor Grove Stormwater Wetland

Friends Center Green Roof

EIGHT GREEN PROGRAMS

GREEN STREETS Stormwater Planters Columbus Square Philadelphia, PA

Street-side Rain Garden Passyunk Avenue Philadelphia, PA

After

GREEN SCHOOLS

Before

Before After

Greenfield Elementary Center City

Wissahickon Charter East Falls

GREEN PUBLIC FACILITIES Green Roof: Free Library, Central Branch Center City

Downspout Planter: Waterview Recreation Center

Germantown

GREEN PUBLIC OPEN SPACES

Cliveden Park East Mount Airy

Liberty Lands Park Northern Liberties

GREEN PUBLIC OPEN SPACES Herron Playground Pennsport

Bar

ry L

ewis

COBBS CREEK GREEN HOMES PILOT PROJECT GREEN HOMES

• $30M PennVest loan • 5 phases between 2009

and 2012

• 93 Sites - over 200 Blocks

• 6 Greened Acres are completed

• 44 GA designed awaiting construction

• 40 GA in design • Construction costs typically

range from $200k to >$1M

PennVest (SRF) Low Interest Loan

• Collaboration between: – Mayor’s Office of Transportation &Utilities – Philadelphia Water Dept – Streets Dept

• Revise and define City review process and policies • Aligning Capital Programs – PWD and Streets • Standardizes green stormwater infrastructure when:

– Water and sewer lines are replaced (approx. 20 miles/year)

– Streets are re-surfaced (eventually 38 % of impervious cover)

GREEN STREETS DESIGN MANUAL

NEW INITIATIVES - First Five Years

• PWD Facilities • Green Campus

Initiatives • Green Schools and

Schoolyards • Greening of Publicly

owned Parking Facilities

• Vacant Lands • Green Homes

www.pennconnects.upenn.edu/find_a_project/by_category/landscape/shoemaker_green_images.php

GREEN PUBLIC PARKING LOTS

Eadom Street Parking Lot

East Falls Parking Lot

Public Parking Lot Owner Potential Greened Acres

(# of sites) Redevelopment Authority 13.1 acres (19 sites)

City of Philadelphia 12.2 acres (20 sites) Beach St. Corp. 11.5 acres (1 site)

Conrail 8.2 acres (2 sites) Kaplan at Tacony 1.7 acres (1 site)

Concept Tools Project Identification and Analysis

Design and Construction

Opportunities

• Maximizing Green Acres in

clustered areas 50+ GA at a time

• Alternatives analysis for integrated implementation

• Potential leveraging of limited funding

• Innovative collaboration

Stormwater Management Enhancement Districts

American Street Corridor Win-Win-Win (Community, Businesses, PWD)

• Centralized stormwater management

• Removes unnecessary pavement

• Collaborative Design

• Up to 46 new greened acres

• Corridor Revitalization

• Build out could double employment

opportunities

AN IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH THAT “EVOLVES” OVER TIME, HARNESSING THE RESOURCES OF:

• PWD • Other City departments and agencies • Public and private landowners • The development community • New or re-aligned not-for-profit groups • Foundations • Federal /state agencies • Community

PHILADELPHIA STORMWATER REGULATIONS Impacts New Development & Re-development with earth disturbance exceeding 15,000 square feet:

•Water Quality •Channel •Flood Control Meets the definition of a greened acre and manage the first inch of stormwater. Opportunity to leverage private development.

Since enacting the 2006 regulations: •PWD has approved 436 Stormwater Management Plans • 57% (248) of these projects are located in the CSO area

PARCEL-BASED STORMWATER BILLING: A financial incentives for better stormwater management

Existing Charge = $ 400 New Charge = $ 2,500

Gross Area = 600,000 Impervious Area = 500,000

• Shift from a meter-based charge for stormwater to a parcel-based stormwater charge • Credit system available for managing stormwater • Top 500 impacted parcels in the combined sewered area make up 12.3% of total

impervious area • Rewards Urban Development

Gross Area = 24,000 Impervious Area = 24,000

Existing Charge = $ 4,700 New Charge = $ 120

STORMWATER MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE PROGRAM

• Stormwater Credit program – to award a mix of grant and loan – modeled after the successful New York City Green Infrastructure

Grant Program. • To qualify, projects must cost effectively capture and retain

the first one inch of rainfall or greater on the property • Projects will be ranked higher during the review and

selection process based on: – feasibility, – visibility, and – the ability of the project to manage public runoff in addition to

on-site runoff. • Grantees will receive the credits as long as they maintain

the SMPs in good working condition.

CITY-WIDE PLANNING INITIATIVES

Public Outreach and Participation

Green City, Clean Waters Advisory Committee

Low Impact Design Challenge

Green City, Clean Waters Documentary Video Series GSI Interactive Tours,

Podcasts & Maps

Ribbon-cuttings and project specific events

Fairmount Waterworks Interpretive Center

Green Tours

Green City, Clean Waters Website www.phillywatersheds.org

Social Media: Facebook

The Flower Show

Front Street, Norris Ave, Frankford Ave and Palmer Street

CASE STUDY: THE BIG GREEN BLOCK

ALIGNING RESOURCES AND CREATING PARTNERSHIPS

BEYOND THE BIG GREEN BLOCK

• Connections to neighborhood amenities

• Columbia Avenue corridor to Penn Treaty Park

• Waterfront connection • Integration of local art • Promotes awareness

Photo credit: NKCDC

http://www.phillywatersheds.org marc.cammarata@phila.gov