These days, I was asked what could be the contribution in respect of EMAS proper management of a municipal sewer network managed by another management entity.
hypothetical criticality (very widespread in Italy) of the admixture of the networks of white water and black water, with inevitable repercussions on both the phase of collection system (which is inadequate in times of rain, so that there is the famous "jump" the drain or difficult to discharge certain discharges, for example.: from corporate yards) both during treatment (in the presence of a hydraulic load over the air cleaner is forced to go on bypass, that is to download directly to the river or at sea the wastewater is not purified, diluted though ...).
The most serious problem (ie the bottleneck) in my opinion is when the planning of activities to do in periods shorter or longer in need of choices (even politically courageous and unpopular in the short-term): decide how to use certain resources (in this case, very conspicuous) in order to split the line of the sewer (projects, assignments expectations, building sites and tests can cost several million euro, and even sacrifices of 2-3 years population) requires much public spirit to the local population that pays taxes.
is worth noting that some public bodies and private enterprise have already managed to initiate and carry out such work, such as:
1) provincial area Venice and Treviso : national standards of protection of the Venice lagoon have been imposed from 10-15 years to the Veneto Region and municipalities that discharge directly or indirectly (ie in the rivers that flow into the lagoon) the work of split sewage (black and white);
2) Province of Trento: Trentino many municipalities, with the strong support of the Autonomous Province of Trento, have recently started or completed such work to the benefit of streams and rivers receptors. Indeed
positive examples, to my knowledge, focus on these two areas because they are always very expensive interventions. But we should also note that schedules are made follow the correct and timely execution of works.
What could be therefore the contribution of EMAS?
I think it is clearly to highlight the critical issues in the area and what actions / measures the authorities have decided to take timely and periodically checked by a third party (the verifier EMAS) which helps to indicate the status of citizens' certain works of art in progress and what their actual contribution to the Environment
hypothetical criticality (very widespread in Italy) of the admixture of the networks of white water and black water, with inevitable repercussions on both the phase of collection system (which is inadequate in times of rain, so that there is the famous "jump" the drain or difficult to discharge certain discharges, for example.: from corporate yards) both during treatment (in the presence of a hydraulic load over the air cleaner is forced to go on bypass, that is to download directly to the river or at sea the wastewater is not purified, diluted though ...).
The most serious problem (ie the bottleneck) in my opinion is when the planning of activities to do in periods shorter or longer in need of choices (even politically courageous and unpopular in the short-term): decide how to use certain resources (in this case, very conspicuous) in order to split the line of the sewer (projects, assignments expectations, building sites and tests can cost several million euro, and even sacrifices of 2-3 years population) requires much public spirit to the local population that pays taxes.
is worth noting that some public bodies and private enterprise have already managed to initiate and carry out such work, such as:
1) provincial area Venice and Treviso : national standards of protection of the Venice lagoon have been imposed from 10-15 years to the Veneto Region and municipalities that discharge directly or indirectly (ie in the rivers that flow into the lagoon) the work of split sewage (black and white);
2) Province of Trento: Trentino many municipalities, with the strong support of the Autonomous Province of Trento, have recently started or completed such work to the benefit of streams and rivers receptors. Indeed
positive examples, to my knowledge, focus on these two areas because they are always very expensive interventions. But we should also note that schedules are made follow the correct and timely execution of works.
What could be therefore the contribution of EMAS? I think it is clearly to highlight the critical issues in the area and what actions / measures the authorities have decided to take timely and periodically checked by a third party (the verifier EMAS) which helps to indicate the status of citizens' certain works of art in progress and what their actual contribution to the Environment
(whereas not always follow the work done so hoped and expected environmental improvement).
