To: The Editor From: Dianne Brake, President
Lost Water: The Drought, Development and Detention Basins
Homeowners can take important short-term steps to reduce water use during this drought emergency, such as, fixing leaky faucets and installing low-flow toilets and showerheads. However, to really address the root of the problem, residents, communities and the state need to recognize their larger role in the solution.
Although today's emergency is partly the result of the reduced amount of rainfall that we have had for the last five years, the Regional Planning Partnership recognizes that a large part of the problem is that we have stormwater regulations and practices in New Jersey that result in "lost water." Rainwater is lost when it quickly runs off built areas into streams and out to the ocean instead of seeping into the ground to make its way slowly into streams and aquifers. This slow release of water recharges the natural system and keeps streams flowing and wells pumping.
Calling rainfall "stormwater" is at the heart of the problem. The term puts the wrong perspective on it, implying we need to protect ourselves from a threat. Current rules and regulations require new development to handle stormwater in detention basins, designed almost exclusively for flood control. Very little of this water infiltrates into the land to recharge stream flows and aquifers (the source of our drinking water). We need to change our current perspective and see rainfall for the resource it actually is - water for living streams, for drinking and for a strong economy.
How we handle rainfall as stormwater is not the only problem. We lose water whenever communities allow development in the wrong location or allow it to be built in a way that reduces the amount of water being returned to the ground. We build too close to streams, remove vegetation on large amounts of open land to build auto-dependent development, compact the soil under large planted lawns making them almost as impervious as paved parking lots, and pipe rainfall away to detention basins.
What can we do better?
Residents can participate in the Department of Environmental Protection's watershed planning project. Management plans are now being developed with municipalities and the public to identify the location of open space and development for each watershed, as well as the best ordinances, planning and management techniques to protect water supply and quality.
Communities can follow Smart Growth planning principles as advocated in New Jersey's State Plan to ensure that development happens in the right location and in a pattern that better protects the environment and water resources. RPP has tools and guidebooks for municipalities making the move to Smart Growth.
Communities can also adopt ordinances that reward building techniques and materials that capture rainfall and return it as recharge to maintain the natural hydrologic system so that it is no longer "lost water." Techniques such as constructing with pervious pavement (that lets the water run into the ground beneath), building narrower, shorter roadways, and clustering housing are all available. The Association of NJ Environmental Commissions has a library of ordinances.
The State can adopt new stormwater regulations tied to the State Plan that contain a strong recharge requirement and educate municipalities on what benefits the regulations will provide.
Making the necessary changes in state regulations and local ordinances to achieve recharge will take a concentrated effort and needs more public attention. But having a reliable water supply provides incalculable environmental benefits and very calculable economic benefits for everyone - now and into the future.
So do conserve water in your life. But also find out what watershed management area you are in and take time to become active. State and local officials need to know that you care about stopping the loss of water. Water protects life, and we need you to protect water.
Further information is available on the State Plan at www.state.nj.us/osp; on your watershed at www.state.nj.us/dep/watershedmgt; on ordinances at www.anjec.org, and on RPP's Smart Growth tools at www.plansmartnj.org.
The Regional Planning Partnership is a non-profit, non-partisan planning organization committed to sound land use planning and regional cooperation in New Jersey. With over thirty years experience, the Planning Partnership has become the independent voice for sensible development in New Jersey. Its programs and activities are supported by membership contributions from private citizens, area corporations and businesses, governmental bodies, and civic organizations. In addition, it receives funding for special projects from foundations and government contracts.