Lou Musante has been an advocate for the Clean Water Pipe Council since its inception in July of 2008.  In addition, he is a new ambassador for the Living Building Challenge (the next step beyond LEED platinum) in Pennsylvania and Ohio.  He has over 15 years experience in economic development, environmental and sustainability issues analysis with a focus on materials and water systems. His educational background is in chemistry and information science. Professionally Lou has worked for the General Tire and Rubber Company, Arthur D. Little Inc. in Cambridge, MA, Manager Technical Analysis NASA Technology Transfer Center, University of Pittsburgh and he was Vice President of A.C. Nielsen’s Tec-Data Business Unit.

Topic for Green Building Focus

Clean Water – An Increasingly Scarce Commodity: How to Minimize Consumption and Pollution and Maximize Reuse

More About the Topic

There are literally dozens of issues surrounding water as a sustainable natural resource.  This novel workshop will use an expert panel format.  Presenters will highlight best and next practices regarding three critical issues relative to our need to conserve source water, rebuild our water distribution system and focus on net zero approaches to water use and management.
 
Source Water:  Designs with net zero water systems for green buildings and communities must utilize gray water.  With the help of Coca Cola, the Alabama Clean Water Partnership has had early success with rain water barrel conservation programs.  This and other related conservations program successes indicate these methods can help take some pressure off source water systems.  

Water Distribution: Largely out of sight and out of mind, the aging water system in the U.S. (water, wastewater and storm water) has not been maintained. This invisible infrastructure, some in the ground for more than 150 years (ductile iron) is the subject of intense discussions in Washington D.C. relative to funding being earmarked for states.  The EPA estimates about 2 million miles of pipe in the country.  Based on current spending patterns and investment needs over the next two decades there is more than a $500 billion difference.  The pipe materials and design decisions water utilities make today, relative to rebuilding their distribution infrastructures, will impact five future generations.  The Clean Water Pipe Council will highlight risks associated with key water infrastructure decisions and long term versus short term strategies that can significantly impact climate change and green water systems operating costs.

Water Usage:  The price of oil continues to drive more attention to energy management strategies compared to water management.  However, LEED certification specifications and climate change issues have brought more attention to water management strategies in residential, commercial and manufacturing sectors.  Embedded water, gray water and other strategies to help envision net zero water will be reviewed.