Plumbing the Future: Sewage Infrastructure Sustainability in Western Pennsylvania

Author
James M. McElfish Jr., Environmental Law Institute
Date Released
December 1999
Plumbing the Future: Sewage Infrastructure Sustainability in Western Pennsylvani

This report discusses the relationship between sewage infrastructure decisions in southwestern Pennsylvania and effects on the urban, suburban, and rural landscape of the region. The study examines ways in which laws and policies relating to sewage infrastructure investment affect four objectives. The process should (1) result in an environmentally sound system for handling and treating sanitary sewage; (2) promote informed local decision-making and reward responsible behavior; (3) achieve cost-efficiency and resource-efficiency; and (4) support economic development and redevelopment that maintains the vitality of the region