Science, Community, and Political Will for Implementing New Technologies

Title: Science, community and political will for implementing new technologies

Discussion Group Leaders: Steve Suau and Richard Martin

The presenters asked what a water ethic might look like in the Sarasota area, and called for a group discussion on ways that new technology and new practices might promote such an ethic. Sarasota has generally done well with respect to water use per capita in the last twenty-five years, so there is already some precedent. But, how can we do better?

• One of the main ideas discussed was closing the circle of water consumption by refining wastewater. Though technology exists that makes this possible, there are a few obstacles to face. First of all, it is necessary to gather political will in order to refine wastewater. Second, the general public tends to find the idea of reusing wastewater unsettling, even if it is treated. Some other areas have used sneaky practices like storing the treated water for a while and withdrawing it later, to get around this. A third reason is that while the technology exists to reuse water, it does not get purified as well as it might. The standards for measuring acceptable water purity are questionable, so meeting them minimally is no great feat.

• Despite these challenges, it was widely agreed that closing the circle of water consumption would likely be worth the trouble.

• It was mentioned that in New Zealand, there was a process of political redistricting along watershed lines. This means that in New Zealand, people cannot foist water related problems onto other districts, or generally put up with each other's mess. In America, this is not currently feasible. Something like it might work in the future.

• It was mentioned that developers should not build near wetlands, because water ends up there and pollutants can be especially devastating.

• Though it's very expensive, there was consensus that pervious pavement could be a vital tool in water circulation, a tool already employed in part of Siesta Key.

• Artificial storm water lakes, if maintained, can provide water and beauty to interior land, such as Lake Ella in Tallahassee. But maintenance is an issue for such lakes.

• Educational opportunities are important, so that people understand the interconnectedness of water in their area from a young age.

• For a long time, the merits of grassroots initiatives were discussed. One man's personal battle against erosion around stagnant pools evolved into an entire broader initiative, with many volunteers wading throughout the area and scooping out muck. Simply by removing muck, placing topsoil over highly erosive sand, and installing native plants, it was possible to create habitats for fish and eliminate unpleasant mosquito breeding grounds.

• Even when such initiatives are successful, it takes both maintenance and educational efforts to keep them from regressing. Particularly important for many reasons is encouraging people not to mow down vegetation near water.