21st Century Thinking

D.C. Cleaning Up Stormwater

One think I hope that students learn here is that there are many modern solutions to old problems, and that we do have the technology to solve many, if not most, of our really pressing environmental problems.  The issue we face more often now days is not "can we" but "will we".  If you could have better water quality, resulting in healthier fisheries, revitalized coastal communities, healthier families, and beautiful ecosystems- would you invest your tax dollars in those efforts?  My bet is that many would, if it were proposed to them in that way.  Sadly, much of what we do now is just repair and band-aid failing 1950's solutions which costs much more in the long run, when a large up front re-engineering is really the best course of action.  In the article attached, our Nation's Capitol is leading just such and effort to re-engineer the ante-bellum sewerage system into a state of the art storm water ready system, that will change the ecological course of the Potomac River, a major tributary of the Chesapeake Bay.  These efforts will have a real and meaningful impact on our water quality.  It will cost a lot of money, but the return on investment is a clean river, vital with life, invigorating the community and making it a better place to live.  Now who doesn't want that?