Q: What are the greatest threats to environmental sustainability?
A: It varies from region to region, naturally. Certainly in our region, Florida, water resources are probably the most important environmental issue in terms of freshwater supply and nonpoint-source pollution to receiving water bodies. We're at the point where the population of West Central Florida is exceeding the carrying capacity of the region. We have to develop advanced technologies, such as desalination and maybe piping water from other regions of Florida, to allow this region to continue to grow.
Q: Florida is probably not the only place on the planet with freshwater problems.
A: No, it's a widespread condition. I would say the freshwater supply is a major issue at the U.N. and is going to be a major issue in many regions. We will probably see many battles over water supplies, similar to those ongoing in California [and] Nevada.
Q: You mentioned desalination and piping in water from elsewhere, are there any other possible solutions?
A: There don't seem to be in Florida. They are trying to increase the district's capacity by connecting all of the wells into a network, so when certain portions of our region are receiving abundant rainfall, they can pump from those regions into regions that may be experiencing a drought.
There are certainly many initiatives under way regarding conservation. Using more reclaimed water for residential irrigation, for instance, is one major use of water in Florida. The water is almost drinkable when it comes out of the treatment plants because they use the most advanced technology.
Q: Is overpopulation the key to our water problems?
A: Yes. The population is exceeding the carrying capacity of the natural resources for the region. We either have to develop technology to clean water we pump out of the ocean, or pull in water from less populated regions.
Q: Desalination technology already exists, and plants are online in the Middle East and even in Tampa Bay, Fla. What are the downsides to desalination that prevent it from being readily accepted?
A: Maintaining a desalination plant is very expensive, making the water far more expensive than any other solutions. If you consider the economics of water, no one charges you for the water pumped out of the ground, other than the electricity it costs to pump it. Water is not priced in the market according to its worth. The costs of making "desal" water are falling as the technology continues to improve, but we're not yet at the point where it can be competitive with groundwater. There is a gap at this point, but I'm not sure how wide it is.
Q: It's obviously worth filling if you live in Saudi Arabia without access to groundwater. What are the parameters to avoid adversely affecting the sea, ocean or gulf in which desal plants operate?
A: The brine from a particular desal plant would either need to be spread over a large area or highly diluted, so when it goes into the pristine water body, it doesn't elevate the salinity level. This has been studied pretty extensively at the plant here in Tampa, and there is a monitoring plan in place to ensure the discharge does not elevate salinity levels. It's operating right next to the Tampa Electric Company energy plant for two reasons: A desal plant requires a great deal of energy, so having it right next to the power plant is efficient, [and] a power plant obviously disgorges a great amount of fresh cooling water, which the desal plant utilizes to dilute its own brine effluent before it is returned to Tampa Bay.
Q: It sounds like a marriage made in heaven, with economic efficiency an added benefit of an innovative application of technology. What role do you see technology playing in bringing about environmental sustainability?
A: Our own particular focus is on making environmental data and science available to the public, so they understand their position. Environmental issues haven't really changed. We've gone from the era of the '70s where the problem was clear -- you had a pipe dumping sewage into a bay, so it did not take much mental acrobatics to determine the source and cure of the problem.
Today the problem is dramatically different, in that half the pollution is coming from people's yards, running off into receiving streams, bays or lakes. The issue then becomes educating people on how to reduce that pollution while maintaining their individual properties.
Q: That's what you call the "nonpoint source" of pollution?
A: Exactly. Most people don't understand the role atmospheric depositions play in water pollution. Our goal is to simplify this information, so citizens can begin to understand some of these complex issues because it will take everybody pitching in to fix the problem.
Q: But when recycling bins at apartments are often left empty or filled with trash, it seems most people don't care about easily executed and understood concepts like "put this piece of trash in a different bin." How do you expect or propose we break through this general unawareness?
A: It starts with people whose self-interest is affected by some of these environmental problems, and it kind of spreads out from there. One of the things we have in Florida that maybe isn't as prevalent in other states is an environmental ethic, in that many people know they moved here for some aspect of the natural environment -- whether the beaches, the weather, the state parks or other. We can play on this basic environmental awareness to educate them on how they can help ensure Florida will continue to have that environment for them.
Q: This would have to be campaigned then?
A: Yes. It should be even more prevalent than it is. But if you look at the times voters in Florida have been asked to vote on a particular environmental issue, they have often come out overwhelmingly in favor of the proposal that was better for the environment.
Q: How can local and state governments contribute to environmental sustainability?
A: It goes back to educating the population on the importance of the environmental situation. Government should be taking an active role in this education, starting with elementary school students, on the environmental issues unique to their area. Environmental issues are different in each region in the country and throughout the world. State government needs to take a lead role in informing the public about those issues and developing programs to deal with the problems. Regional environmental coordination is important, and that's why we've been able to bring together all of the different agencies interested in water resources to share data and communicate it to the public.
Everyone needs to realize that when they look at the environment, it is an impacted environment. There are very few pristine or old growth areas in Florida. All of our systems have been impacted in some way by man's influence. But these systems are important nonetheless. Even though the forest may be secondary regrowth or the swamp may have been impacted by drainage, they're still important systems to sustain.
Q: Understood, but playing devil's advocate, what use is a swamp to Florida?
A: They're one of the most productive ecosystems. The wetlands are basically the kidneys of the land -- they clean the water, removing many of the contaminants. They are also the source of muchfood for a lot of commercially viable fish and crustacean that interest people. So while they may not be interested in or care for swamps -- mosquitoes and such -- they are interested in lobster populations, fish populations and some organisms that benefit from the existence of the swamp ecosystem.
Q: How do you see economic and environmental sustainability interrelating?
A: Returning to the idea that water is not priced at its true value on the market, I think we have to take a much broader economic view to include some of these environmental impacts in our cost accounting -- particularly as it relates to public resources because there are many environmental consequences that, in turn, result in economic consequences that aren't accounted for in our current economic model.
Q: With water considered a commodity and public utility everyone thinks of as a God-given, and politicians do not like prices rising on their watch, may this be a difficult pill to swallow?
A: Yes. We have a water consumption problem. We want people to consume less water, and we want them to install water-conserving devices. If you increase the price of water, that will facilitate conservation -- just like increasing the price of gasoline results in people tending to buy much smaller cars to reduce gasoline consumption. If it hits their pocket book, it will be a very effective way of enforcing conservation.
Q: Europe certainly has small cars and high-priced gas, but they also have a better infrastructure for public transport.
A: Yes, but our land use is different. The density does not exist for public transport at a reasonable cost, particularly in the Sunbelt areas developed after World War II. In terms of issues of sustainability, this is going to be a big problem for this region in the next few years.
Q: Probably for quite a few parts of America. The Los Angeles subway is a bright and clean system that remains poorly utilized, while above ground, cars and SUVs are bumper to bumper with a single occupant in each.
A: After Sept. 11, the issue of terrorism further detracts from the idea of public transport. People feel a lot safer in their own vehicle than in a mass transport system.
Q: Any further thoughts on how local or state governments can act to bring about sustainability?
A: I cannot overemphasize the importance of education. Local governments need to work together to bring about better governmental coordination around the key issues. Government agencies should be working toward common goals and providing information for citizens, so they can understand the issues. Hopefully then some of these issues will become part of the political discussion, which is where the changes will be made.
The water outlet program we've created at the university, for instance, is focused on doing just this: bringing government agencies together concerning water resources and making sure information is easily available, so when citizens want to become involved at the local level on issues about specific projects -- or if they are asked to support a watershed management plan or something that can improve the condition of the area water resources -- they will be educated and capable of decision and action. So when they go to the County Commission, they can take information from their Web site -- and they have done so over the past several years -- and make an educated argument in favor or against a project.
Q: Knowledge is certainly power, and when it comes to managing our differing environments around the country, we can all benefit from governments and citizens knowing where they stand.
A: Yes. We provide live, on-the-fly GIS mapping, with a fairly sophisticated Microsoft database containing data from multiple government and nonprofit organizations on the status of the environment.
