Pittsburgh’s Guide to Action Contents

Introduction 2 How our water system works 6 How green infrastructure works 12 Where green infrastructure is needed most 14 Acting together 16 How we got here 20

Acknowledgments

The One Water approach offers a cohesive way of thinking about how people use water resources. Led by the US Water Alliance, this approach to water stewardship holds that all water has value and “must be managed in a sustainable and inclusive manner to build strong economies, vibrant communities, and healthy environments.” The partners wish to thank those community leaders dedicated to working in the arena of clean water and managing water through built and natural systems. They are showing us that the people of Pittsburgh are capable and credible partners in achieving a healthy One Water cycle. When it becomes standard operating procedure to include a resilient water strategy in every land-use project, and in management of open spaces and greenways, we will have succeeded. And if we make improvements at every scale, from the personal to the regional, we can develop a One Water system that is sustainable and even resilient to extreme weather and changing climate. The authors would like to express our deep appreciation to our collaborators for their input on this Guide and their continued dedication to One Water principles: • 3 Rivers Wet Weather • 9 Mile Run Watershed Association • Watersheds of South Pittsburgh • Pennsylvania American Water

Colophon Designed and illustrated by evolveEA. Typeset in Roboto, by Christian Robertson. Printed on Enviro Print 100% PCW Recycled paper at Franklin Press in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

1 OUR OUR WATER FUTURE

ittsburghers are deeply familiar with both positive and negative Green infrastructure is designed to capture rainwater where it falls, water experiences. A visit to Point State Park celebrates our water slow it down, and clean it while enhancing community spaces like Presources. Walking by a stream or pond refreshes and brings parks. In addition to promoting cleaner rivers and streams, green peace of mind. On the other hand, solutions must be found to reduce infrastructure projects can also lessen the impact of flooding and sewage in the rivers, erosion and landslides hastened by saturated soils, erosion, while creating beautiful and relaxing green spaces. and flooding on major roadways, and address other issues. Informed citizens play an essential role in advocating and planning Many agencies across the public and private sectors are working to for equitable water infrastructure. If we work with community improve these conditions. Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA), organizations, professionals, and agency staff, together we can Allegheny County Sanitary Authority (ALCOSAN), and Pennsylvania develop an integrated system that protects water, people, and American Water are tasked with ensuring clean and safe water in public green space. We need many voices to express how green Pittsburgh and are investing millions of dollars in water infrastructure. This infrastructure can benefit our families and communities. This guide includes both grey infrastructure (pipes and underground storage-based explains some basics on how our water system works, and ways that systems) and green infrastructure (landscape/surface-based systems). you and your neighbors can be part of the movement to improve it. 2 3 natural landscapes clean runoff as it flows into streams and rivers

stormwater drains from parking lots, roads, and Drinking water, roofs into sewer pipes sewage, rain, and river alcosan cleans used water before releasing water are managed it into the rivers as separate things by

pwsa cleans water from the rivers and delivers different agencies, it to our faucets and are governed by

different regulations. urban trees and drinking water is stored in greenways absorb reservoirs and water towers rainwater

4 5 Water is a single resource that Communities upstream of Pittsburgh have a similar water connects us all, system. Their treated sewage becomes our drinking water. water tower

Water is delivered from reservoirs and water towers to communities.

downspouts reservoir

Homes and businesses send sewage to pipes along with rainwater from their surfaces.

parking

park

Sewage is diverted to the treatment plant, unless there’s too much. pipe carrying sewage to plant

pwsa

alcosan stream/run overflow pipe

The treatment plant treats the water and discharges Our drinking water is taken it back to the river. Natural landscapes from the river, treated, and slow down water pumped to reservoirs and and allow it to soak water towers. into the ground on its way to the river. and it must overflow pipe be managed collaboratively. river

6 7 when it

8 9 Even a little rain overloads

our system Stormwater drains off impervious surfaces water tower like roofs and roads into sewers.

downspouts reservoir Rainwater runoff enters streams, often carrying pollutants Areas with a lot of paving produce from paved surfaces. polluted water that runs off into streams very quickly, causing soil erosion and flooding.

parking inlet

park When rain joins sewage in the pipes, all the combined sewage can’t reach the treatment plant. Some flows into pipe carrying sewage + overflow pipes, and some backs up stormwater to plant overflow pipe into streets or basements. pwsa

alcosan stream/run

overflow pipe

A combination of rainwater and untreated sewage flows directly to the rivers It is a health hazard (Combined Sewer Overflow). to swim or kayak in the dirty river.

river

10 11 DEVELOPED LANDSCAPE Green infrastructure Changing the natural landscape for buildings and roads can create steep helps solve this problem landslide-prone slopes.

Loss of plant cover and more paved surfaces lead to runoff that pollutes waterways. NATURAL LANDSCAPE

Stormwater flows into combined sewers, eventually ending up in the river. Trees slow rainfall and allow it to flow down the stems and trunks. Less infiltration Trees use and release water through means less their leaves, and promote infiltration. groundwater.

Development alters the landscape and thus the water cycle. Steeper slopes, less vegetation, and paved, or impervious surfaces increase surface runoff. Runoff is rain water that hasn’t soaked into the ground. It becomes dirtier as the natural landscape is Plants help to hold and filter rainwater. They also hold built upon, carrying pollutants into our waterways. Sewers rush this polluted water away. soil in place, minimizing landslides and erosion. HEALTHY LANDSCAPE

Green Roof

Street Trees Rain soaks into the Rain Barrels ground. Filtration from soil and roots cleans the water. Some surface run- off into streams and Constructed Wetland rivers occurs, but in small amounts.

Parks In a natural system, the water cycle is managed by the landscape: vegetation, Rain Garden soils, and streams. Water is intercepted and consumed by plants and infiltrates, or soaks into the ground to replenish groundwater. Water also flows over the landscape to rivers and streams. This process cleans and filters water.

Green infrastructure uses techniques that help to absorb, capture, and store stormwater runoff. They reduce pollution, promote healthy communities, and mimic the way the natural landscape functions. 12 13 Where green infrastructure is needed most Allegheny River

O27 A41 Woods Run Heth’s Run

A sewershed is an area of land where all the sewers flow to a single end point like an outfall along a river. Everyone lives in a sewershed. To find out which sewershed you live in visit: A42 pgh2o.com/Find-Your-Sewershed Negley Run

Several watershed associations Ohio River M19 advocate for and carry out green Soho infrastructure projects: Saw Mill Run Run • Negley Run Watershed Task Force a42.livingwaterspgh.org • Nine Mile Run Watershed Association ninemilerun.org Monongahela River To resolve the stormwater problem in a • Watersheds of South Pittsburgh way that benefits Pittsburgh residents, the M29 econdevsouth.org/our-projects/ City of Pittsburgh and PWSA developed the saw-mill-run-watershed-association Citywide Green First Plan. It recommends Four Mile Run the use of green stormwater solutions in M16 several priority sewersheds (seen here) S. 21st Street that contribute the most to the problem of combined sewer overflows. The plan envisions a network of stormwater Nine Mile Run systems that will help to capture, reduce, and slow down the flow of water into the sewer system, and improve water quality. PWSA would build many of these projects in parks and public spaces, so they also create partnership opportunities that can lead to broader community benefits.

14 15 Acting together

Every action creates a A green network of ripple of change—from many projects can personal awareness improve ecology and of water use to large- water quality on a scale projects. greater scale.

learn more about green infrastructure

green a vacant lot install a rain barrel

go for a water walk with neighbors plant a tree advocate in your yard for green collaborate advocate streets for watershed for green improvements development steward a greenway

Individual Block or Project Neighborhood and Watershed You can have a positive or negative impact on You and your neighbors can improve your block Green infrastructure works best when it’s with the City’s Community Affairs or your the watershed where you live. Every person and the health of our water by working together designed and implemented as a system within neighborhood planner: facebook.com/ocapgh can be mindful of their water use. At home, and taking advantage of City programs. a watershed, where all water flows to one or pittsburghpa.gov/dcp/neighborhood-planning installing a rain barrel or rain gardens can help Wightman Park in Squirrel Hill is a good point. Plans organized around watersheds and Reach out to City Planning and the Pittsburgh solve overflows while reducing your water bill. example of a project where neighbors became sewersheds that include multiple neighborhoods Parks Conservancy to ensure your stormwater Follow the simple guidelines in A Homeowner’s advocates for giving green infrastructure an are most effective at improving water quality goals are incorporated into park planning: Guide to Protecting our Watershed for taking important role. and addressing water issues holistically. facebook.com/PghDCP + pittsburghparks.org. care of your home and land in a water-wise • Adopt-A-Lot helps residents work on vacant A good way to promote One Water principles way: 3riverswetweather.org/sites/default/files/ is to work as a task force or watershed Watershed Plans homeowners%20guide.pdf lots to create edible gardens, flower gardens, or stormwater improvements. pittsburghpa. organization focused on a specific body of water. A common tool for working at this scale is If you’d like to build something simple that gov/dcp/adopt-a-lot You can get involved in projects at a watershed a watershed plan. It is both a strategy and soaks up rainwater and grows beautiful scale. See some local examples on page 15. a work plan to reach water resource goals. • Greenways for Pittsburgh outlines an official plants, check out the Allegheny County If you have an idea for green infrastructure, Usually, stakeholders and management Conservation District’s Homeowner’s Guide to process for improving the forests through agencies will study the watershed; set goals stewardship. Improving forest health greatly speak to, and gather support from, your Stormwater: wcdpa.com/wp-content/uploads/ neighbors and Community Organization for improving it; develop an implementation Homeowners-Stormwater-Guide.pdf improves water quality. pittsburghpa.gov/ plan and carry it out; and monitor progress dcp/greenways and meet with your neighborhood planner. They can organize meetings with PWSA, the within a geographically-defined watershed. • TreeVitalize, a program of the Western Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy, and other In Pittsburgh, sewershed planning, which Pennsylvania Conservancy, has tree organizations to identify funding or projects it includes planning for green infrastructure, is planting programs in the spring and fall. can fold into. PWSA’s responsibility. You can participate in the waterlandlife.org/trees/treevitalize-pittsburgh. process by first finding what sewershed you live If your neighborhood is developing a in: pgh2o.com/Find-Your-Sewershed. comprehensive plan, make sure green stormwater management is a priority. Connect

16 17 Acting together: City-wide

know your watershed neighbors join a city-wide advocacy group

Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy (PPC) learn about pittsburghparks.org/park-events + city-wide green infrastructure pittsburghparks.org/volunteer projects 3 Rivers Wet Weather 3riverswetweather.org Our Water Our Rivers Campaign: a program of Pittsburgh United pittsburghunited.org/ourwater + cleanriverscampaign.org Pennsylvania American Water environmental grant program amwater.com/paaw/news-community/ environmental-grant-program Tree Pittsburgh treepittsburgh.org

Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) (ALCOSAN) Several departments share responsibility for • Owns pipes under streets, catch basins • Treats raw sewage and industrial waste green infrastructure planning. and drainage structures from 83 municipalities in Allegheny Key activities: • Pumps and treats drinking water County, including the City of Pittsburgh, at • Department of City Planning (DCP) – • Delivers combined stormwater and ALCOSAN’s Ohio River Plant. Guides creation of City plans and policies, sewage to ALCOSAN • Responsible for developing and including elements related to stormwater. • Reduces CSOs and improves water implementing the Clean Water Plan, which is Enforces the City’s stormwater ordinance. quality in the City of Pittsburgh. designed to reduce overflows of untreated Chief Resilience Officer guides the City’s wastewater containing sewage and other Key Activities: PWSA is currently planning Resilience Strategy. National Resources green stormwater projects in several priority contaminants into streams and rivers. • Department of Mobility and Infrastructure Clean Water Action sewersheds including Four Mile Run (M29), Key Activities: The GROW grant program (DOMI) — Manages, designs, improves, cleanwateraction.org Negley Run (A42), Heth’s Run (A41), and implements green infrastructure projects and is and operates Pittsburgh’s system of Two-Mile Run (A22). available to municipalities served by ALCOSAN. sidewalks, curbs, streets, and bridges that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) transport people and goods. epa.gov/environmental-topics/water-topics Get involved: Whether you live in one of Get involved: Sign up for SOAK Alerts to find • Department of Public Works (DPW) — Handbook for Developing Watershed Plans these sewersheds or are concerned about out when overflows affect our waterways. Improves parks through capital projects and to Restore and Protect Our Waters (EPA) stormwater in your neighborhood, attend Attend the open house, a family-friendly landscape management. Forestry Division epa.gov/nps/handbook-developing- PWSA’s project meetings to learn more, ask event about water quality in the region, cares for trees in parks and City streets. watershed-plans-restore-and-protect- questions, and get involved. hosted every fall at the ALCOSAN treatment our-waters pgh2o.com/gi-what-we-are-doing facility. Learn more at 3riversproud.com Get involved: Contact your neighborhood planner: gis.pittsburghpa.gov/pghneighplanner US Water Alliance One Water Roadmap Allegheny County Sanitary Authority City of Pittsburgh More Local & Regional Resources uswateralliance.org/sites/ uswateralliance.org/files/publications/ Roadmap%20FINAL.pdf

18 19 4.6 Billion Years ago - all How we got here water in existence today is created

Pittsburgh’s system to manage water has developed in a fragmented way over time. 2.6 Million years ago - beginning 11,700 years ago - end of last Ice ~16,000 years ago - beginning of last Ice Age. Pittsburgh is flat. Age. Mon and Ohio in present course. of human settlement in SWPA Monongahela and Ohio rivers flow Melting waters create hills and valleys at Meadowcroft north to Lake Erie

haudenosaunee us steel longhouse highland smithfield street park bridge 1802 Start of public water supply (well water) Drinking Water Late 1700s 1828 Sewers European- Public pump station 1880 1890 American taking water from river Start of Public Start of Sewer Construction—these settlers arrive Reservoir new sewers carry dirty water directly to the region fort pitt Construction to the river. Streams like Negley Run, Four Mile Run, and Nine Mile Run are buried within the new sewers. 1951 1936 frick park Death due to flooding St. Patrick’s Day Flood. Pumping on Washington Blvd stations flood. Upstream reservoirs and dams constructed Regulation & Management wabash bridge

Stormwater 1908 1956 1946 city county Beginning of ALCOSAN begins ALCOSAN founded. building Drinking Water construction of the waste Interceptor sewers Treatment water treatment plant. constructed to intercept sewage before it flows into rivers 2011 frick environmental Deaths due center 1996 to flooding on civic arena Beginning of Nine Mile Washington Blvd Run Greenway and 2007 - Stormwater Restoration Project ordinance enacted Green Infrastructure

1972 - Clean 1984 - PWSA 1999 - PWSA 2004 - EPA orders 2008 - EPA orders 2012 - ALCOSAN 2016 - PWSA Water Act (CWA) established becomes PWSA to control CSOs ALCOSAN to releases first regional releases Green responsible for control CSOs Wet Weather Plan First Plan Pittsburgh’s sewer pipes 2014-16 2018 us steel tower Project 15206 builds Wettest year on point state park david l lawrence green infrastructure record (57.83 convention center in East Liberty inches of rain) 20 21 Support for this publication was partially provided by a grant from the Pisces Foundation, which seeks ways to accelerate to a world where people and nature thrive together. piscesfoundation.org The project also has been generously supported by the JPB Foundation through the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and powered by Livable Communities, an evolveEA administrative partner in issuing and managing this grant.