Regional Thinking on Water Infrastructure
Renew Lehigh Valley seeks to mobilize community support for regional collaboration on water/wastewater infrastructure. This type of regional cooperation is critical to both promoting long-term cost efficiency and fostering more sustainable patterns of growth and development. RenewLV's Regional Water Initiative is consistent with our larger mission of catalyzing regional collaboration and smart growth in the Lehigh Valley.
Millions of Dollars in Annual Cost Savings for the Lehigh Valley: Like almost all regions across Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Va lley over the next decade will need to make major investments in upgrades, repairs and maintenance to its water/wastewater systems--a basic infrastructure that is essential to safety, public health and economic vitality. With 40 different publicly owned water and wastewater systems, the Lehigh Valley is not well positioned to take a coordinated approach to planning for and investing in water/wastewater infrastructure. However, the Lehigh Valley has the potential for significant cost savings through regional collaboration. A Water Research Foundation study has shown that regional collaboration on water/wastewater infrastructure could save the Lehigh Valley $40 to 60 million each year by 2020. [Read a summary of the Water Research Foundation study.]
A Key to More Sustainable Development: Our water/wastewater infrastructure shapes how and where development occurs. By taking a regional approach to water/wastewater services, the Lehigh Valley can foster development that is better aligned with "smart growth" principles. This would mean targeting new development to areas with existing water/wastewater infrastructure (especially the region's older core communities) and prioritizing the use of existing water/wastewater services over the creation of new infrastructure. For more on smart growth approaches to water/wastewater, read the Statement of Vision and Principles for RenewLV's Regional Water Initiative.
What You Can Do
Learn About the Water Research Foundation Study [Executive Summary - PDF]: Commissioned by RenewLV, this peer-reviewed study shows the significant financial benefits the Lehigh Valley could realize through regional approaches to water/wastewater infrastructure.
Endorse RenewLV's Regional Water Initiative: State your organization's support for this RenewLV's vision and principles on water/wastewater infrastructure, as well as the call for regional collaboration on water/wastewater.
Contact County Officials: Let key decisionmakers in Lehigh and Northampton County know you support regional approaches to water resource management.
Join the RenewLV E-mail List - stay informed about this initative, as well as other efforts of RenewLV, and keep up-to-date on meetings and events.
Watch "Liquid Assets" - see a preview of the documentary here.
Tell a Friend about the need for a regional approach to mananging water resources
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