Pittsburgh ranks in top 'green' cities
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Despite chronic flooding and sewage discharges into the rivers, Pittsburgh has received a pat on the back from a national group that tracks cities' use of "green infrastructure" to mitigate water-related problems.
Pittsburgh was one of 14 cities and metropolitan areas touted Wednesday in Rooftops to Rivers II, a new report by the nonprofit National Resources Defense Council on efforts to reduce sewage and stormwater runoff.
While Pittsburgh wasn't rated as highly as most of the other cities in the report, the council said all 14 have taken steps that should be emulated by municipalities across the country and encouraged by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
"Each of the cities profiled in Rooftops to Rivers II is a leader in green infrastructure investment," said the report, accessible at www.nrdc.org/rooftops.
Among other initiatives, Pittsburgh was lauded for the greening of vacant lots, tree planting, restrictions on certain development projects and efforts to involve the public in green infrastructure projects.
The compliment may come as a surprise to residents who are well aware of the region's problems with sewage and stormwater problems, including sewage overflows into the rivers.
"We do have some great initiatives going on here ... We just have a long way to go," said John Schombert, executive director of 3 Rivers Wet Weather, a group that helps municipalities with water management.
Nationwide, the council said, 10 trillion gallons of untreated sewage and stormwater pollute waterways and beaches each year. It says green infrastructure -- including green roofs, trees, permeable pavement and rain gardens -- not only help prevent runoff but are less expensive alternatives to pipes and other "gray" infrastructure traditionally used in the proper disposal of sewage and stormwater.
First Published November 21, 2011 12:00 am
