Tag: water sustainability

Trip to Battery Park City

Being a New Yorker, I truly never get tired of walking around the city and my trip to Battery Park City was no different. I really do believe that New York City has the possibility to become substantially more sustainable and Battery Park City has already begun taking the first steps. As I walked around Teardrop Park and passed the Solaire building, I saw the great potential of using the systems already in place in these locations around the city. The Solaire Building’s bright solar panels, along with its reuse of treated black and grey water extended towards the park, all give a potential solution to the extensive CSO issues of our city. If these systems and technology are integrated into other buildings of New York City, we will be so much closer to creating a water integrated system that propels our city towards complete sustainability. Furthermore, I witnessed the large amounts of green space from the park and the streets made of cobblestones in hexagonal shapes around the area of the Solaire, giving the idea of permeable pavements and green infrastructure implementation in large parks, which can aid in the flooding issues that New York may experience more often in our future. If these ideas were implemented all around the city, we may be better prepared for the future effects of climate change. We would also be able to take care of our environment as well as solve the city’s problems on water control. All of these thoughts were racing through my head as I walked around and realized the extent to which Battery Park has demonstrated a proper model to be followed for the future of New York City.

As I continued touring, I came across the shiny red Balloon Flower and the 9/11 Memorial Fountain. The sculpture was surrounded by small fountains of water, all of which have the possibility of using treated black and grey water instead of potable drinking water. The same can be done for the large gallons that fill the Memorial Fountain day by day. Just by implementing water integrated systems into features of artwork in the city, it may be possible to raise more awareness of the need to become more water sustainable. Artwork has the ability to attract people and to deliver a statement or message to those who view and interpret it. If an added message of water sustainability is given through the artwork, then it is possible to attract people to learning about this necessary goal of the city. Artwork and raising awareness of important messages and goals have always worked hand-in-hand, and I do not believe this would be any different.

City Summit 2017

Next week in Charlotte, North Carolina City Summit 2017 will be held to discuss the future of America’s cities.  Although water and sustainability won’t be the only topic of discussion, it will most definitely be an important and resonant topic.  A portion of the summit’s activities will be dedicated to cities that have started to use  One Water’s strategies to accomplish reforms in the way cities handle water.  Some of these cities include Tucson, Milwaukee, and Los Angeles.  Many American major cities are coming together and collaborating in planning for a more sustainable future.

One Water presents a comprehensive plan for water management in our future cities.  With a mind for sustainability, equitability, and affordability as well as health, safety, aesthetics, among other qualities, One Water is becoming increasingly attractive to more and more cities across the country.  However, what really makes One Water stand out from other options cities have in water management is its dedication to community involvement and collaboration and integration with local politics.  Considering One Water has partnered with the National League of Cities, the organizers of City Summit 2017, for this summit is evidentiary of their dedication to being involved on a deeply local scale. Understanding that water management is likely to be different for many cities, crafting specific plans following the general ideas and principles of One Water for different cities becomes easier.  Hopefully the 2017 City Summit produces some important pathways for future development of many cities’ water management plans.

Using “Toxic Art” to Advocate Water Sustainability

Water sustainability can be carried out in multiple ways. John Sabraw is an artist that works with environmentalists and scientists to do research on streams polluted from abandoned coal mines in Ohio. He also works on making a fully sustainable art practice that produces eco-conscious art. His recent art pieces, called “Toxic Art”, were made from pigments created from the acid polluted mine runoff. These vibrant art pieces are not only beautiful to look at, but also brings awareness to the pollution of our world’s waters due to humans and industrialization.  Continue reading “Using “Toxic Art” to Advocate Water Sustainability”