How many large cities can you think of where you've been able to swim in (and drink from) a truly clean, open, fresh body of water in city limits? Aside from risking it in filthy French canals in my naive youth, I've found few. Exception: Stockholm. Where summer days blend into summer nights, bikes are king, and forward-thinking urban design has redefined how cities can look + act. (Listen up, America!) 2 swimming-biking adventures stand out: the north end of Djurgården (one of the 4 main islands) and Brunnsviken Beach (bathing suits optional). Swimming spots in the city within minutes of the city center abound. Imagine swimming carefree in Central Park's reservoir. Or the Thames. Design Tips below for details.
Sweden's archipelago is a vast and dense array of islands. Örskär is one of thousands to enjoy more of Sweden's pristine water, midnight sun, and the company of good friends. Thanks to my good friends Patrik and Manjari Ringstroem for opening my eyes to this magical place.
[design tips]
It is possible for most urban cities to have clean water for swimming and drinking. Landscape architects are trying to reverse common knowledge + design practices to see and use water in cities it for what it is: an invaluable resource.
A few basic terms and facts:
1. Rain in cities in referred to stormwater.
2. How it's dealt with (or ignored) is stormwater management.
3. Most municipalities view stormwater management as one of their biggest headaches, adopting ways to move it out of city limits and sight ASAP. This has led to some of the most destructive flooding and water pollution our world has ever seen.
[why urban water is polluted: pavement, no clean dirt]
As cities grow, so do buildings, parking lots, + streets. Available dirt for rain to soak into and the number of absorptive plants shrink. Millions of gallons of water pour into street drains and rivers; collecting car juices, trash, and junk as it races across pavement. What water is collected in the drains often connects with sewage pipes, and when treatment plants are at capacity, all of it (shit and all) goes, you've got it, straight to our potential swimming holes. Gross.
Sweden's archipelago is a vast and dense array of islands. Örskär is one of thousands to enjoy more of Sweden's pristine water, midnight sun, and the company of good friends. Thanks to my good friends Patrik and Manjari Ringstroem for opening my eyes to this magical place.
[design tips]
It is possible for most urban cities to have clean water for swimming and drinking. Landscape architects are trying to reverse common knowledge + design practices to see and use water in cities it for what it is: an invaluable resource.
A few basic terms and facts:
1. Rain in cities in referred to stormwater.
2. How it's dealt with (or ignored) is stormwater management.
3. Most municipalities view stormwater management as one of their biggest headaches, adopting ways to move it out of city limits and sight ASAP. This has led to some of the most destructive flooding and water pollution our world has ever seen.
[why urban water is polluted: pavement, no clean dirt]
As cities grow, so do buildings, parking lots, + streets. Available dirt for rain to soak into and the number of absorptive plants shrink. Millions of gallons of water pour into street drains and rivers; collecting car juices, trash, and junk as it races across pavement. What water is collected in the drains often connects with sewage pipes, and when treatment plants are at capacity, all of it (shit and all) goes, you've got it, straight to our potential swimming holes. Gross.
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| Nice hiding job, Providence! A combined sewage - rainwater pipe in my local river. The official ranking system ranks this river as unsafe for people to even touch. [how to make our cities' swim-able] There are many ways of treating water naturally. Nature will always deal better with water than people or technology. Instead of drains + pipes, it's best to create areas where water can filter through the ground, be stored in tiny pores, and feed trees + plants. This reduces urban flooding; replenishes our quickly-diminishing aquifers, groundwater supply, + rivers; reduces the tax burden of water treatment; + leaves us with cleaner water in our cities. For us to drink + skinny dip. Rain gardens, stormwater street planters, planted swales/ditches, wetlands, planted detention basisn, green roofs, + other areas for infiltration like parks and pervious pavements are critical for our health and our for cities'. Sidwell Friends School's educational campus by landscape architect Andropogon is one of the best examples of urban stormwater management (all images courtesy of Andropogon): |
I agree wholeheartedly with your statements about stormwater. EPA in the US doesn't regulate it, mostly due to the farm and ranch lobbies twisting arms when the Clean Water Act was created. Ag and indirect pollution flood our waterways with so much phosphorous, oil, nitrogen, and other pollution. So sad.
ReplyDeleteWe occasionally work on setting up stormwater utilities in the US, but they mostly focus on (as you mentioned) getting the water out. Sometimes clients will charge stormwater fees based on non-permeable surface area on land, which provides some incentive for more green design like the one you have presented. But these "costs" the utilities are allowed to recover only cover their operating and capital expenses, not the indirect cost of pollution in our waterways to the public health. Lovely post, thank you.
Thanks for your insights, Fletch. Particularly for your note about stormwater fees collected from a developer or anyone building a project for the percentage of land that becomes impossible for water to soak into (permeate).
ReplyDeleteIt's short-sighted one-time payment to a city for a problem that will persist as long as the structure does. Imagine paying $100 upfront to connect to the sewer system and then never having to pay for it again, ever. It's cheap and not problematic until your neighbor's effluent starts to flood your basement and front yard. This is literally what is starting to happen in our cities. But there are very simple and tangible ways of fixing this. Keep at it, Keith!