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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY May 3, 2007

LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY May 3, 2007. Task Force Background. Over the last 8 years, several regional studies have provided extensive information on our region’s water and sewage problems. These efforts have consistently recommended regional collaboration to adequately confront our problems.

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LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY May 3, 2007

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  1. LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACADEMY May 3, 2007

  2. Task Force Background • Over the last 8 years, several regional studies have provided extensive information on our region’s water and sewage problems. • These efforts have consistently recommended regional collaboration to adequately confront our problems. • The Regional Water Management Task Force was formed to begin achieving consensus on action steps.

  3. Representation/Scope • Diverse, high-level representation from 11 southwestern Pennsylvania counties • Appointed with input from county commissionersand state legislators • Chair – Dr. Jared CohonPresident, Carnegie Mellon University • Vice Chair – Dr. Angelo ArmentiPresident, California University of Pennsylvania • 15 additional members from throughout the region Dr. Jared Cohon

  4. Public Water and Public Sewage Services in Southwestern Pennsylvania

  5. Mission • Solving our region’s water-related problems in a way that best serves our citizens • Protect the public’s health, ensure environmental sustainability, provide for the region’s economic vitality,and avoid costly regulatory actions • Institutional not technical project • Public engagement to determine consensus • Implementation

  6. Our water seems fine… The region has madegreat strides, BUT… Southwestern Pennsylvania continues to face one of the worst combinations of water problems in the nation.

  7. These important problems must beconfronted aggressively, but significant obstaclesexist to fixing them.

  8. Surface Water Intake Ground Water Intake CSO Outfalls Malfunctioning Septics The Causes of the ProblemsAre Complex and Regional Pittsburgh Water Quality ProblemsDownstream… …Are Caused by problems Upstream in Different Communities, Counties,and States Morgantown

  9. Over 1,000 Different Entities and1,100,000+ Homes Responsible 11 Counties 601 Municipalities 268 Authorities Many other jurisdictions 1,140,300 Households

  10. Some of these entities are doing well…and some not doing so well • Deteriorating infrastructure • Average age is increasing • Large disparity in investment • Lack of planning • Sewage discharges overlooked • Corrective action plans, consent orders, tap in restrictions • Aging workforce

  11. Cooperation Takes Many Forms • As a region, we value the autonomy of municipalities and there are strengths to this system which can be capitalized on • However, sometimes we pay a cost • Not local ineptitude but regional inefficiency • Water is a multi-municipal problem • Nuances of regional approaches to regional problems • Not about losing identity or voice • Task Force does not have a preconceived solution, but rather trying to determine the best way to proceed • because we all live downstream…

  12. Regional approaches can work… • Examples in the region • Indiana County Municipal Services Authority (ICMSA) • Bundles investments to get best funding, solving serious problems,enjoys economy of scale • Municipal Authority of Westmoreland County (MAWC) • Efficiently interconnected water systems • Consolidated infrastructure and expertise in both water and sewage • 3 Rivers Wet Weather, Inc. • Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC)

  13. Regional approaches can work… • Other metro areas: • Milwaukee(Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission) • Minneapolis-St. Paul (Metropolitan Council) • Cleveland (Northeastern Ohio AreawideCoordinating Agency) • Atlanta (Metropolitan North Georgia WaterPlanning District)

  14. How multi-municipal collaboration might help us • Efficiency • Operations and management • Shared equipment, technology and personnel • Money • Greater access to funding • Coordinated investment • Equity • Greater ability to work out problems on a watershed basis • Stabilized, appropriate and common fees • Shared planning regarding future water decisions • Upstream/downstream, Long term sustainability • Regulatory Relief

  15. Models for Input • Regional planning • Regional planning and financing • County based planning and operations • Watershed based planning and operations • Greater incentives for decentralized collaboration

  16. A Balancing Act • Local autonomy vs. regional efficiency • Service provision vs. bureaucratic oversight • Pay for your own problems vs. regional equity • Rural vs. urban • Not always true conflict – we need to have a values discussion to overcome

  17. Phase II Goal • Production of a highly specific proposal for water planning/management in southwestern Pennsylvania with an implementation strategy. • Task Force will remain focused on seeking institutional solutions that will improve planningand management in the region

  18. Upcoming Public Meetings • May 8 – Fayette County • May 9 – Upper St. Clair • May 15 – Cranberry • May 16 – Monroeville • May 17 – Downtown Pittsburgh

  19. Questions/comments Ty Gourley, Project Managerdtg9@pitt.edu 412-624-7792 (W)412-721-5142 (C) www.iop.pitt.edu/water Sign up for our email distribution listAdditional public meetings/individual presentations available

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