Historically, site selection for wastewater treatment facilities has been based on land cost and availability, adjacent property values, proximity to viable sewer routes, and watercourse viability for reasonable discharge limits. More generous investments are sometimes made in landscaping, odor and noise abatement, and architectural enhancements for wastewater treatment and conveyance infrastructure when facilities are located near more affluent communities. Residents of such communities often have better access to elected officials and to legal counsel than their counterparts in underserved communities and may be more likely to speak out in community forums. While our historical criteria for site selection remain sound, they sometimes result in decisions to locate wastewater infrastructure in areas where disadvantaged individuals reside.

This webinar will present a case study of an odor abatement project for which equity issues came into play. Some key philosophical and policy questions will be addressed – Does it matter who was there first? Should ratepayer money be spent on odor abatement improvements that may only provide a benefit to a limited number of people? Tools for evaluating neighborhood demographics, including income levels, health statistics, ethnicity, education levels, and other key indicators will be explored, and ways to use the available data for community engagement will be discussed.

Speaker:

Mark A. Perkins, P.E., Mead & Hunt

Registration and Sponsorship

WEAT Member Registration: Complimentary

Non-Member Registration: $85

Webinar Sponsorship: $300

Sponsorship includes your name and logo acknowledgment at the webinar, on the WEAT website, in the bimonthly Texas WET magazine, and on the WEAT social media pages.