After discussions over the past few days concerning stormwater utilities and both point and non-point source pollution, I was doing some research on financing stormwater system improvements. I wondered how the Narragansett Bay Commission collects fees from residential and commercial customers…so I looked at their 2007 Annual Report.
I would call it the ‘big machines solve problems’ approach to pollution. The Narragansett Bay Commission has build a 300 foot deep, three mile long, sixty-five million gallon “Main Spine Tunnel” to hold stormwater during heavy rain events so that it can be treated before going to the Bay.
I think it cost around $500 M and obviously used many big machines….sort of the Robert Moses approach.
My apologies, I generally try to not be cynical about technology (I’m an engineer for God’s sake), but this one has for several years sent me over the edge.
For the Annual Report:
Richard Pace 