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