TRACK 1, DAY 2
Advancing Resilient Water Management: One Water Approach in Practice
Thursday, March 27, 2025 | 11:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. | Hall A
ABSTRACT
The One Water concept represents a paradigm shift in water management, tackling the issues of population expansion, climate change, aging infrastructure, and changing regulatory requirements.
The One Water strategy integrates the management of water supply, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater, and surface water, prioritizing sustainability, resilience, and efficiency, and moving beyond the traditional linear, siloed management systems. This paradigm shift enables communities to establish more looped, regenerative systems, transforming water that was once considered waste products into valuable resources.
Successful implementation across North America, including stormwater reuse in Minnesota’s trout streams and volume-sensitive watersheds, as well as green infrastructure in Canada and the USA. These initiatives underscore the potential of integrated water systems to increase water quality, decrease infrastructure expenses, and bolster climate resilience.
One Water initiatives, such as EOR’s stormwater reuse efforts, demonstrate the efficient collection and repurposing of stormwater runoff for irrigation and non-potable applications.
The case studies on green infrastructure and deep lake cooling systems in Canada illustrate the efficacy of integrated water management in alleviating urban heat, decreasing potable water use, and enhancing ecological health. The One Water idea demonstrates flexibility and scalability across several climates and regulatory environments.
Despite significant progress, the deployment of One Water encounters obstacles such as institutional inertia, legislative restrictions, and the lack of design standards. Addressing these requires further research and innovation, emphasizing the development of standardized compliance instruments and promoting cross-sector cooperation.
EOR’s unique Stormwater Reuse Model allows designers and regulators to assess and enhance project adherence to stormwater rules. Realizing the whole potential of One Water necessitates investment in integrated infrastructure, promotion of community engagement, and advancing policy development.
Continued research, policy support, and pilot projects will drive the concept forward, ensuring a resilient, sustainable water future across North America and beyond.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Brett Emmons, Emmons & Olivier Resources
Brett H. Emmons is a founding principal of EOR with 37 years of experience in civil and water resources engineering. Natural resources management, preservation, and Planning—with an emphasis on innovative stormwater management techniques—has been his specialty.
Brett has been instrumental in developing EOR as a regional leader in low-impact design and sustainability planning. Brett has led the planning and design of various projects ranging from small residential efforts to large multi-million dollar projects. He is experienced in leading project teams involving multiple consultants, public interest groups, and various government committees at every jurisdictional level.
Kajol Annaduzzaman, Emmons & Olivier Resources
Kajol has 15 years of experience in civil/environmental engineering, culminating in a doctorate degree in wastewater treatment for his research on utilizing groundwater native iron as biofilters for the removal of harmful contaminants in drinking supply wells.
Beginning with an undergraduate degree in civil engineering, Kajol has advanced his education and expertise around the world, focusing on water-related engineering. His professional work has specialized in wastewater treatment and drinking supply systems, including soil, sediment, and water quality sampling and analysis.
Kajol has extensive academic experience both as a research associate and teaching assistant. He has also contributed to numerous peer-reviewed journals and presented at many international conferences.