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Smart Growth and Water
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Background
Development affects both the quantity and quality of water by changing the natural flow of stormwater runoff in a watershed. When rain hits impervious surfaces such as roofs, streets, and parking lots, it flows off in large quantities, carrying pollutants it picks up from the surfaces. The runoff's increased quantity and speed erode stream channels and destabilize their banks, while pollutants harm plants and wildlife in rivers, streams, and bays. Additionally, increased runoff can cause water treatment plants to overflow, releasing untreated sewage into water bodies.
Communities and developers can reduce runoff quantity, protect water quality, and conserve water by developing compactly, preserving ecologically critical open space, and using green infrastructure strategies.
- Compact development generates less stormwater runoff per unit of development because it creates less impervious surface. It can also conserve drinking water because it requires shorter pipes to serve a community, which reduces the amount of water lost to leaks.
- Directing development to existing communities can help reduce the pressure to develop on open space that might have valuable ecological functions such as buffering a water body.
- Green infrastructure techniques, such as rain gardens, permeable soils or pavements, and green roofs, mimic natural processes to capture stormwater, slow it down, absorb some of it into the ground, and filter out pollutants before releasing the remaining runoff to storm sewers or waterways. Other elements such as rain barrels and cisterns can store runoff for nonpotable uses such as irrigation, which helps conserve drinking water. In addition to protecting water quality, these green infrastructure practices can make streets and buildings more attractive and reduce ambient air temperatures.
These strategies can help regions, states, and communities cope with climate change impacts and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Many regions will see heavier rainfalls, more drought, and increased flooding. Smart growth strategies can help communities accommodate development in safer areas, integrate green infrastructure into streets and neighborhoods to reduce stormwater runoff, and use water more efficiently.
EPA Resources
National Award for Smart Growth Achievement Winners
The National Award for Smart Growth Achievement recognizes exemplary smart growth projects across the country. Many of the winning projects used various strategies, including compact development, green building, and green infrastructure, to reduce stormwater runoff, improve water quality, and use water more efficiently. Projects that are particularly focused on water include:
Charles City Riverfront Park's playground equipment uses materials that protect the area from flooding while providing fun features for kids to explore.Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail and Historic Fourth Ward Park – Atlanta, Georgia (2013): The Fourth Ward Park includes an attractive lake that captures runoff and reduces flooding. Video- Historic Millwork District and Washington Neighborhood – Dubuque, Iowa (2013): As part of redeveloping the former mill district, Dubuque brought a buried creek above ground to reduce flooding and create an attractive new park. Video
- Charles City Riverfront Park – Charles City, Iowa (2013): Charles City used land acquired in post-flood buyouts to create a park that reduces flooding and has become the recreational heart of the city. Video
The Uptown Normal Roundabout's water feature captures and filters stormwater while creating a pleasant place for people to gather. Photo courtesy of Scott Shigley, Shigley Photo.Uptown Normal Roundabout – Normal, Illinois (2011): The roundabout includes a water feature that uses stormwater that is captured, filtered, and later used in irrigation, protecting the town’s creek from polluted runoff. Video- Mint Plaza – San Francisco, California (2010): The plaza, a popular gathering space, includes an innovative yet easily replicable stormwater system. Video
- New Columbia: Building Community Together – Portland, Oregon (2007): This redeveloped neighborhood processes almost all of its stormwater runoff on site, protecting water quality.
- High Point Redevelopment – Seattle, Washington (2007): This redevelopment uses a natural drainage system to make sure that runoff entering a nearby stream is clean.
- Balanced Growth Through Downtown Revitalization - Town of Barnstable, Hyannis, Massachusetts (2007): The town’s redevelopment plan reconnects residents to the waterfront by creating pedestrian-friendly paths and links new residential developments to natural areas and wetlands.
Publications
Stormwater Management and Green Infrastructure
Reports from the Greening America's Capitals projects provide useful models for communities that want to implement green infrastructure to help revitalize neighborhoods. Lessons from Greening America's Capitals Projects (2013) describes five lessons from the first two rounds of projects that can help all communities incorporate green design strategies into their planning and development.
Enhancing Sustainable Communities With Green Infrastructure
2014. Guide to help communities integrate green infrastructure and sustainable communities strategies to plan and design green infrastructure for multiple environmental, health, economic, and social benefits.
Managing Vacant and Abandoned Property in the Green Zone of Saginaw, Michigan
2014. Report from a technical assistance project with the city of Saginaw, Michigan, to develop a land use and infrastructure strategy that stabilizes neighborhoods through the sustainable reuse of abandoned properties, supports redevelopment of abandoned properties as green infrastructure, and creates opportunities for long-term economic growth.
Stormwater Management Handbook: Implementing Green Infrastructure in Northern Kentucky Communities
2009. Report on the EPA technical assistance project to help Sanitation District No. 1 of Northern Kentucky explore development options, including green infrastructure, that protect water quality and improve communities.
Protecting Water Quality With Smart Growth Strategies and Natural Stormwater Management in Sussex County, Delaware
2009. Report on the EPA-NOAA technical assistance project to help Sussex County, Delaware, better protect water quality as the county grows using green infrastructure and other solutions.
How Can Wells Grow and Protect Depot Brook?
2007. Report on the EPA-NOAA technical assistance project to help the town of Wells, Maine, find options for development that protect Depot Brook.
Using Smart Growth Techniques as Stormwater Best Management Practices
2005. Reviews nine common smart growth techniques and examines how they can be used to prevent or manage stormwater runoff.
Stormwater Guidelines for Green, Dense Redevelopment
2005. City of Emeryville, California. Guidelines geared specifically to developers and designers to meet requirements to treat stormwater from development projects. These guidelines were developed by a non-EPA contractor through a grant Emeryville received from EPA.
Water and Wastewater Infrastructure
Long-term Planning for Sustainable Water and Wastewater Infrastructure in Wellpinit, Washington, for the Spokane Tribe of Indians
2013. Report from a technical assistance project with the Spokane Tribe of Indians to evaluate the tribe’s water and wastewater needs, identify actions to improve the systems’ capacity for new development, and help ensure successful long-term operation of the infrastructure.
Opportunities to Advance Sustainability in California's Clean Water State Revolving Fund Program
2012. Report by EPA's Office of Water and Office of Sustainable Communities on a pilot project to help the state direct resources to projects that support sustainable communities.
Maryland Clean Water State Revolving Fund Sustainable Communities Pilot Project Report
2012. Report on how EPA worked with Maryland's Clean Water State Revolving Fund program to consider ways to focus resources in existing communities and infrastructure systems to leverage past investments and support sustainable communities.
Water Conservation
Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments
2013. Addresses the local codes of ordinances that affect the design, construction, renovation, and operation and maintenance of a building and its immediate site (including elements that affect water use) to help local governments, the development community, and other building professionals identify and remove barriers to sustainable design and green building in their permitting processes.
Growing Toward More Efficient Water Use: Linking Development, Infrastructure, and Drinking Water Policies
2006. Focuses on the relationships among development patterns, water use, and the cost of water delivery, and includes policy options for states, localities, and utilities that directly reduce the cost and demand for water while indirectly promoting smarter growth.
Water Quality
Water Quality Scorecard: Incorporating Green Infrastructure Practices at the Municipal, Neighborhood, and Site Scale
2009. Offers policy options for protecting and improving water quality across different scales of land use and across multiple municipal departments.
Protecting Water Resources with Higher-Density Development
2006. Helps communities better understand the impacts of higher and lower density development on water resources. The findings indicate that low-density development might not always be the preferred strategy for protecting water resources.
Protecting Water Resources with Smart Growth
2004. Intended for audiences already familiar with smart growth concepts who seek specific ideas on how techniques for smarter growth can protect water resources. Offers 75 policies that communities can use to grow in the way that they want while protecting their water quality.
Waterfront Development
Planning for Flood Recovery and Long-Term Resilience in Vermont: Smart Growth Approaches for Disaster-Resilient Communities
2014. Report from a technical assistance project with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the state of Vermont, and the Mad River Valley Planning District on how communities in Vermont can recover from flood impacts from Tropical Storm Irene and become more resilient to future disasters. The report includes the Flood Resilience Checklist to help communities determine whether they are prepared for a flood.
Achieving Hazard-Resilient Coastal & Waterfront Smart Growth: Coastal and Waterfront Smart Growth and Hazard Mitigation Roundtable
2012. Report from a meeting organized by EPA and the state Sea Grant College Programs of Rhode Island, Texas, and Hawaii on how coastal and waterfront communities can create economically and environmentally sustainable neighborhoods while minimizing risks from flooding and related natural hazards.
Embracing the River: Smart Growth Strategies for Assisting in Cedar Rapids' Recovery
2010. Report on the EPA-FEMA project to help Cedar Rapids revise its land use policies to encourage infill and more sustainable growth after the 2008 floods.
Waverly, Iowa, Smart Planning Workshop: Policy Options and Project Designs
2010. Report on the EPA-FEMA project to help Waverly develop policy options and strategies for green infrastructure, housing, and infill development after the 2008 floods.
Smart Growth for Coastal and Waterfront Communities
2009. EPA, NOAA, Rhode Island Sea Grant, and the International City/County Management Association. Builds on existing smart growth principles to offer 10 development guidelines for coastal and waterfront communities, along with tools, techniques, and examples.
Downtown Waterfront Form-Based Code Workshop
2008. Report on the EPA-NOAA technical assistance project to help Marquette, Michigan, develop a form-based code for its Downtown Waterfront District.
Implementing the Aquidneck Island West Side Master Plan
2006. Report on the EPA-led technical assistance project to help Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island, develop tools and options to implement its West Side Master Plan.
Technical Assistance
Please see the Smart Growth Technical Assistance Programs page for more information about EPA’s smart growth technical assistance programs. One program that focuses on green infrastructure is Greening America's Capitals, which helps state capitals develop environmentally friendly designs for a neighborhood that can serve as a model for other communities. These designs incorporate innovative green infrastructure strategies. EPA works with HUD and DOT through the Partnership for Sustainable Communities to provide this design assistance and help city staff develop implementation strategies.
Tools
Flood Resilience Checklist
2014. This tool can help a community determine whether it is prepared for a flood.
Webinars
Visit our webinars page for information about Smart Growth Program webinars on water issues.
Websites
EPA’s Office of Water manages programs to protect the nation's water. Programs particularly relevant to smart growth strategies include:
- Green Infrastructure: Includes research, tools, and examples to help communities implement green infrastructure solutions.
- Water Infrastructure: Helps communities make water infrastructure investments that support overall community goals.
- Urban Waters: Helps communities, especially underserved ones, access, improve, and benefit from their urban waters and surrounding land.
- WaterSense: Labels water-efficient products and promotes water-efficient landscaping.
Other Resources
The Partnership for Sustainable Communities is a collaboration among the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), and EPA to align investments and coordinate policies to help communities improve access to affordable housing, increase transportation options, and lower transportation costs while protecting the environment. Many projects that receive funding or technical assistance from the Partnership agencies involve stormwater management and green infrastructure strategies.
- The Partnership’s Case Studies page includes examples of Partnership-assisted projects that incorporate water management strategies.
- The Partnership’s Clean Air and Water Resources and Tools page lists materials to help communities protect their water.