An Enduring Legacy: Commissioner’S Corner the Drumbeat of Positive Green In- the New Deal’S ‘Water Waste Force’ Frastructure News Continues
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WEEKLY Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor Carter Strickland, Commissioner PIPELINENovember 22, 2011 Volume II • Issue 99 An Enduring Legacy: Commissioner’s Corner The drumbeat of positive green in- The New Deal’s ‘Water Waste Force’ frastructure news continues. Last n e m p l o y - week, DEP unveiled green infra- ment was at structure projects totaling $1 mil- Uan all-time lion at the Bronx River Houses, a high of 25% and NYCHA housing complex. The families were strug- event was attended by NYCHA gling to meet basic Commissioner and Environmen- needs like food and tal Coordinator Margarita Lόpez shelter; banks and and Bronx River Houses resident businesses were Cecilia Rivera. This project is fan- failing and home- tastic on so many levels. First, un- ganizations are all eligible to sub- lessness was not like several of our other projects mit applications by February 15 uncommon. This was the state the was the United States Works Prog- to date that focus on one type of for green projects like green roofs, country was in when Franklin Del- ress Administration (WPA)—the source control, the installation here rain gardens, rainwater harvest- ano Roosevelt began his first term largest of all the New Deal pro- included several types of green in- ing, and right-of-way bioswales. If as president in 1933 at the height of grams—which was created in 1935 frastructure: a blue roof, rain gar- you know someone who might be the Great Depression. to improve the economy and boost dens, and a stormwater chamber interested in applying for a grant, morale by employing millions of and perforated pipe system below In response to these worsening please point out our website for skilled and unskilled workers to two different parking lots. Togeth- conditions, Roosevelt implement- the online application and tell them carry out public works projects. er, this will capture approximately ed a series of economic programs to attend one of our three grant The Department of Water Supply, 32,000 gallons of stormwater per known as the “The New Deal” that workshops * . What makes this rain event and help reduce runoff aimed to provide relief, recovery Gas and Electricity (DWSGE), a DEP program so exciting is that it really entering our combined sewer sys- and reform to a country that was predecessor agency, immediately taps into the environmental spirit tem and discharging into the Bronx suffering. One of these programs (Continued on reverse side) of New Yorkers who are looking to River. We have installed extensive see how they too can be part of the monitoring equipment so that the solution. Whether installing a rain lessons learned from this site can barrel or putting in a blue roof, we Spotlight on Safety be applied elsewhere. Second, it is all have the ability to help clean up exactly these types of interagency the city’s waterways. From the EHS Director’s Desk partnerships that are needed for From time to time, the Spotlight on for BWT to be separating mixed pa- our NYC Green Infrastructure Plan Our talented workforce is our Safety column will feature a few words pers, cardboard, bottles, cans, and to succeed over the next 20 years. greatest asset and it is always from one of DEP’s EHS Directors. It foil—the same things we all sepa- Our Green Infrastructure Task good to take a moment to note helps keep the focus on how opera- rate from our trash at home—at its Force is specifically tasked with that. Last week we honored hun- tions are implementing EHS policies wastewater treatment plants and developing when and where we dreds of DEP employees at Em- and best practices. This week, a few collections crew quarters. build green infrastructure so that ployee Recognition Day, attended words on recycling from BWT’s EHS we minimize construction disrup- by DC37 Executive Director Lillian “In June, the agency submitted its Director, Bill Yulinsky, P.E.: tion and get the most bang for the Roberts, Kimberly Vann from the recycling program to the Depart- public buck. Third, the community Organization of Staff Analysts and “The Bureau of Wastewater Treat- ment of Sanitation, meeting the was involved from the beginning representatives from several lo- ment has been removing waste obligation under Local Law 36 as meetings were held to inform cal unions. A total of 593 employ- from used water for years, and the (2010); you can find the agency’s the residents before the project ees were recognized for longevity, improvements in the quality of the recycling plan on Pipeline, under started and community feedback meaning they have been at DEP for waterways around the city have Health & Safety * . helped improve the original design. at least 15 years—with recently- been significant. In one sense, used “And one last word about my own re- The community response has been retired Henry Aurdahl Jr. from drinking water is being recycled to cycling pet peeve—reuse manila en- overwhelmingly positive. Watch BWT topping the list at 49 years! make waterways safe for boating, velopes, file and hanging folders, and a great clip of the event here * . Another 255 managers and non- fishing and other recreational activi- save 3-ring binders. Discarding them A special thanks to Wet Weather managers had perfect attendance ties. Recycling is not new to us. is a waste of our natural resources, is Planning and Water Quality Policy this past year, and we honored “Like the rest of the agency, BWT expensive, and they can often be re- Director Julie Stein for managing 1,560 employees for their planning has been disposing of its universal used. And don’t forget to recycle your this program, along with Deputy and recovery efforts for the North waste and used oil so that it gets re- soda cans and bottles as well. Commissioner Angela Licata, River fire and Hurricane Irene. All of cycled, and has also been recycling John McLaughlin and Erin Morey these employees, as well as those “Remember: Reduce, Reuse, in BEPA. not specifically recognized at this scrap metal from its operations * . Recycle * .” event, make the agency proud be- So it was just a natural progression And yesterday, DEP launched the cause of their professionalism and second round of the widely popu- dedication. New Yorkers are lucky lar Green Infrastructure Grant Pro- At DEP, everyone is responsible for safety. If you or anyone on your team is concerned about your to have you working every day on gram. This year, we are making working conditions, it’s okay to ask your supervisor or your bureau’s EHS liaison how they can help. their behalf. If you’ve still got questions, you can call the EHS Employee Concerns Hotline. It’s DEP’s responsibility $4 million available, up from $3.8 to acknowledge and fix unsafe situations, procedures, and practices. With your help, we’ll not only million that was awarded to last Happy Thanksgiving to everyone get the job done, we’ll make it safer for ourselves, our coworkers, our families, and our city. round’s 13 winners out of 52 that and their families. Just make sure applied. Private property owners, to wash all the turkey down with CALL (800) 897-9677 OR SEND A MESSAGE THROUGH PIPELINE. HELP IS ON THE WAY. * businesses, and not-for-profit or- NYC Water! Focus on the Field (An Enduring Legacy: The New Deal’s ‘Water Waste Force’… continued) applied to take on WPA employees by a lack of rainfall, was so severe For water conservation, new tech- who were greatly needed for a va- that by October 1939 the demand nology and retrofitting—coupled riety of projects. In the first year of for water actually exceeded the de- with behavior-changing educa- the program, the average number pendable supply available. In other tion—resulted in water and energy of WPA workers employed by the words, if the drought persisted and savings. For example, in 1994, department each month was about consumption was not reduced, the DEP launched the world’s largest 2,100. This force consisted of 1,490 reservoirs would have been deplet- toilet rebate program in response laborers, 593 skilled mechanics, and ed for the first time in city history. 52 draftsmen and clerks. The types to increasing water use and In order to get the word out about of projects that the WPA employees wastewater flows. the severity of the water shortage worked on varied but the most com- and the need for inspections, the Liebold said, “It’s rare to see the mon ones included making repairs department embarked on a mas- macro impact of a policy in real to department buildings, pumping sive conservation campaign urging During the time when the Works time but so many toilets and stations and gatehouses; erecting the public to conserve water and Progress Administration was in exis- showerheads were being replaced and painting fences; and building check for leaky fixtures. By 1940 tence in the mid-1930s, water con- that we could see dry weather flow garages and repair yards. Another an astounding 2 million pamphlets sumption in New York City was about at several wastewater treatment important project that WPA workers describing the situation were dis- 900 million gallons a day. Although plants and citywide consumption were involved with was a large scale tributed to schools and businesses population growth has increased moving downward every month real estate survey of NYC that was across the city and over 35,000 demand for housing, energy, and during 1995 and 1996.” instrumental in the department’s ex- posters were displayed in subway transportation, since 1990 total wa- pansion of the water supply system.