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$2.6 Billion is enough to bankrupt us collectively or individually as consumers.

Green roofs are sweet but don't do that much for water drain off. They are great for lowering cooling costs for their buildings. But a green roof on a building that covers an previously permeable surface doesn't remedy the harm.

Small items like replacing sidewalks and parking spots with permeable surfaces can help little bit too.

But the scandal, the huge part of the $2.6 Billion we're on the hook for is one big elephant in the room:

Ten years ago a bill was passed in DC that granted commercial buildings FREE sewage service for pumping out below-ground structures (those hated underground garages). Almost every building of seven stories or more in DC is solid concrete core requiring underground structure which becomes a garage. (This is why the 7-story limit on many DC streets is a disaster in preference to the 6-story ecologically sound model).

Commercial buildings make a lot of money off their underground structures which are not possible without almost 24-hour pumping out of ground water into the sewers. They can afford to pay for that service- we cannot afford to pay for the ground water problem those big buildings cause.

They should not be getting free sewage for that water !

by Tom Coumaris on May 25, 2012 9:31 am • link • report