Powering Treatment with Power from the Sun Success Stories, Challenges, and Cautionary Words
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Volume 8, Number 1 June 2012 The Newsletter of NEIWPCC — The New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission Powering Treatment with Power from the Sun Success Stories, Challenges, and Cautionary Words BY STEPHEN HOCHBRUNN, NEIWPCC o stand amid a large, modern solar installa- tion for the first time is to be transfixed—the Tmultiple rows of panels elegantly symmetrical as they taper away like railroad tracks, colorful hues dancing on the panels’ surface, an eerie quiet as energy from the most elemental of sources is cleanly harnessed. It is impossible not to stop, stare, say whatever you say when something takes your breath All photos by NEIWPCC except where noted away. Everyone does. In Chelmsford, Mass., Todd Melanson sees such a reaction all the time as he leads visitors around the solar array at the town’s Crooked Spring Water Treatment Plant. But if Melanson is still amazed by the sight, he did not show it during a NEIWPCC visit late last summer. He was too busy explaining how everything works and why solar is working for Chelmsford. “I talk a lot,” Melanson admitted as he looked out over the array from an embankment. “I think it’s Rows of solar panels gleam under the midday sun at the Crooked Spring Water Treatment Plant in Chelmsford, Mass. because I just happen to really like my job.” In 2006, the Chelmsford Water District chose Melanson to fill a new position for the district—en- stallation at the Chelmsford drinking water treatment Resplendent on the day of our visit, the rows of vironmental compliance manager—and in the years plant is one of the largest ground-mounted solar ar- solar panels at Crooked Spring stood as a visually since, he has led important efforts to conserve and rays in New England. Top state officials have visited striking symbol of progress on energy. It is progress protect the district’s water supply. The job allowed it, praised it. The Environmental Protection Agency that required much time, effort, and money—and him to play a central role in bringing solar power to and the Massachusetts Department of Environmental good timing too. (There is nothing quite like a Crooked Spring—and to do so in a big way. The in- Protection gave the district an award for building it. continued on page 5 Despite the somewhat temperamental nature of “Greener” Grass grasses (or graminoids, to use the technical term), Americans harbor an abiding love of lawns. Estimates Making Lawn Care Environmentally Friendly is of the total lawn area in the country differ widely, but 20 million acres (approximately the same area as Goal of New NEIWPCC Effort Maine) is a reasonably conservative estimate. While that’s less than 1 percent of U.S. land, the distribu- tion of lawns across the landscape is intrinsically tied BY CLAIR RYAN, NEIWPCC such an approach are many, and it all begins with the nature of the problem itself. to the distribution of people, and as such, it is far green lawn fits into our societal notion of Growing a healthy lawn is a science, a fact any from uniform. A team at the NASA Ames Research what is aesthetically pleasing, but a green lake agronomist or golf course custodian will be happy continued on page 13 A definitely does not—and the connection be- to substantiate. Like any plant, turf grass has myriad tween the two is unmistakable. What is put on lawns needs including water, sunlight, a suitable soil Inside can and often does end up in substrate, and essential water bodies, and the harm nutrients. But there’s more: Ron Poltak on the Perils of Plastic .........2 done is real and often sig- Most lawns in the Northeast NEIWPCC’s Chase Makes His Case nificant. A new undertaking contain a variety of species on Data .............................3 being led by NEIWPCC is collectively referred to as Meet Our New Commissioners ...........15 aimed at alleviating the prob- cool season grasses—Ken- lem in our member states. The Northeast Voluntary tucky blue grass, annual and perennial ryegrasses, and TR-16 Gets Much-Anticipated Update ....15 Turf Fertilizer Initiative is a collaborative effort that red fescue are a few favorites—and each species has Book Review: The Big Thirst .............16 seeks to engage the six New England states, New York nuanced needs for water and light, fertilization, soil Why Workgroups Work .................17 State, EPA, and industry and non-industry stakehold- compactness, and soil chemistry. If that isn’t enough, ers in discussing the contribution of lawn fertilizers to all cool season grasses go through cycles of growth In the Spotlight: Award Winners, polluted runoff and water quality problems—and in and dormancy based on the temperature of the soil Chuck’s Change, and One Clever Kid ...18 voluntarily pursuing solutions. The reasons for taking and the timing of mowing. From the Executive Director One Easy Way to Executive Director Ronald Poltak Make a Difference Deputy Director Susan Sullivan arth Day 2012, April 22, has tic bags, they normally cite this visible come and gone—but what a day environmental impact. Fair enough, but Established by an Act of Congress in 1947, the it was. We can all take pride in there’s an energy connection too: To New England Interstate Water Pollution Control E Commission is a not-for-profit interstate agency that the fact that 42 years after the very first make plastic bags, it takes petroleum. employs a variety of strategies to meet the water- Earth Day, it remains a powerful focal Now, to be sure, oil is currently and for related needs of our member states—Connecticut, point around which people of all nation- the foreseeable future vital for our mod- Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, alities demonstrate their commitment ern way of life. It is a critical source of Rhode Island, and Vermont. NEIWPCC coordinates to the environment. It is estimated that energy, and without it, so many aspects forums and events that encourage cooperation among the states, develops resources that foster progress on more than a billion people participated of our world would grind to a halt. But water and wastewater issues, represents the region in various Earth Day 2012 activities it’s hard to argue against reducing in any in matters of federal policy, trains environmental around the globe. way possible our reliance on this non-re- professionals, initiates and oversees scientific research, So what was everyone talking about? newable resource, a point that was made educates the public, and provides overall leadership in water management and protection. Energy use reduction, for one. As a topic of discus- repeatedly at this year’s Earth Day events. sion, cutting energy use still initiates considerable So consider the following fact and pass it along: NEIWPCC is overseen by 35 Commissioners—five debate in spite of it being far from a novel concept. Making the world’s plastic bags requires the use of from each member state—who are appointed by There are many ideas shared in this regard—some about 60-100 million barrels of oil every year. To put their state governors. Each state’s delegation includes the commissioners of its environmental and health very detailed or complicated, and most politically that in perspective, just 1 million barrels of oil would agencies (or their designated representatives), with charged. Other ideas are reasonable or so it would easily satisfy the energy needs of 22,890 Americans the rest of the delegation consisting of individuals seem. for an entire year (according to the website energy- appointed to the Commission by virtue of their I want to share a simple one: Let’s all work to get watch.com). experience and interest in water and wastewater issues. An up-to-date list of NEIWPCC’s rid of plastic bags. About 100 billion plastic bags are The time has come to end such an unnecessary Commissioners is available at www.neiwpcc.org/ used every year in the United States alone. Plastic use of the world’s precious petroleum. We have commissioners.asp; please note that the number bags are used by almost everybody. We get them plenty of options other than plastic bags for carrying of NEIWPCC Commissioners from each state can everywhere, from a vendor at an outdoor farmers’ whatever needs to be carried. So let’s all do the right vary from year to year due to the gubernatorial appointment process. NEIWPCC’s staff, under the market to a high-end designer store. Nobody can thing. Set an example and take a pass on the plastic direction of Executive Director Ronald Poltak and dispute that they are convenient and easy to use. But bags. If you haven’t done so already, spend a few Deputy Director Susan Sullivan, develops and carries most of us are blissfully remiss in understanding the dollars on reusable bags and use them instead. You’ll out programs endorsed by our Commissioners. repercussions of their use and abuse. be helping to keep plastic out of the environment It is estimated that only about 5 percent of plastic and, in a small but not insignificant way, be helping bags are recycled. That means that once they are to reduce energy use. That’s not a bad return on used, most bags will enter our waste stream. Every your investment. year far too many end up littering our environment. They find their way to our streets, parks, and beaches, Sincerely, and all too often, end up in our rivers, lakes, ponds, Editor and streams. And the worst environmental effect of Stephen Hochbrunn, NEIWPCC all is that they are non-biodegradable.