PITTSBURGH WATER & SEWER AUTHORITY
improvements .
“ We invited industry experts from not only across the region , but some international experts as well , to get everyone ’ s heads together and figure out , ‘ What are our wet weather issues ?’ ‘ What is green infrastructure ?’ ‘ How can we work together to change municipal court codes and to install green infrastructure while encouraging green infrastructure on private property whenever feasible ?’” Good said .
The meetings were a huge hit . Representatives from the Department of Transportation , Public Works , the Department of Health and a range of local advocacy groups , architects , engineers and builders were given a chance for their voices to be heard . The key takeaway from these meetings ? That they needed to happen more often . So immense was the benefit of open communication that had previously been lacking that PWSA moved to form the Green Infrastructure Technical Advisory Committee ( GITAC ).
The GITAC is made up of officials who have been present since the first charrette . Meeting once per month , this board highlights key areas that PWSA can make improvements in the realm of clean tech .
“ They work specifically on how PWSA can do more with green infrastructure . We don ’ t have control over private property , but we certainly can include best practices and recommendations in our developers manual ,” Good said “ There are all sorts of hurdles to green infrastructure that are not unique to Pittsburgh .”
So in a nutshell , GITAC ’ s main task
“ Pittsburgh is uniquely poised for large-scale , innovative changes in the next few years . I love this city and it is an honor and privilege to have the opportunity to continue working at the PWSA ”
– Jim Good , Executive Director www . pgh2o . com 87