Integrated Water and Ecosystem Services Management as Complementary Utility-Beneficial Approaches

摘要

Governments such as Damascus, Oregon, responsible for large areas of development that willincrease population density and require water systems capacity and infrastructure beyond thatcurrently available, are posed with a dilemma: how do we maximize available services whileminimizing costs? Damascus chose to develop an Integrated Water Resource Management Plan(IWRMP) that takes a comprehensive, cost-effective, and sustainable approach for providingwater, wastewater, reclaimed water, and stormwater services. The IWRMP recommendsmanaging water resources within the community, through near-term storage of stormwater andits use for irrigation, complemented by reuse of reclaimed wastewater effluent and reduction ofnon-potable demand. Sufficient high functioning, as well as impacted but restorable, naturalresources are documented within the 10,000-acre City boundary to support a City-wideecosystem services credit market. Sites composed of landowner parcels might be developed fordifferent land uses with associated reuse irrigation, while setting aside areas for stormwatermanagement and resource protection through such an ecosystem services program.