Circuit riding for managing small community sewage systems

Providing wastewater treatment services for small communities can be expensive, so many communities have chosen part-time or inadequately trained operators. This can result in neglect and poor plant performance. Indiana County, Pennsylvania, in the USA, has established an authority to provide operation and maintenance through a circuit riding arrangement. Two operators travel to eight plants five days a week. This has resulted in more consistent operation and maintenance at affordable rates. Homeowners pay $12.60–$18.00 and commercial customers pay $25–$150 a month. Even with regular attention, these small plants are not able to meet their effluent requirements at all times.     

THE COMPLETE DRAINAGE PROGRAM - MORE THAN AN ORDINANCE1

ABSTRACT. An ever increasing number of communities throughout the nation are being forced by Federal legislation and local pressures to adopt land use and control measures related to drainage and flood protection. In many instances communities are hastily adopting ordinances and regulations which later prove difficult to administer and enforce. In addition, many of these ordinances and regulations are not producing the results originally anticipated. This paper discusses the basic elements of a drainage ordinance and evaluates the role of the ordinance in a comprehensive drainage program. This evaluation is based on the results of a two year study of drainage programs in five urban areas which produced a model urban drainage ordinance and recommendations on the administration of the ordinance. Personal interviews and local documents are used as the data base in formulating conclusions and recommendations.     

黄龙溪古镇生态旅游开发初步构想

以自然资源为基础的生态旅游作为一种可持续发展的旅游形式，应成为大多数旅游区的发展模式。黄龙溪是成都八大风景区五大类型中田园古镇的典型代表，其丰富的自然景观和人文景观受到越来越多游客的青睐，有关部门在制定黄龙溪古镇旅游规划时应体现出生态的精神，开发与保护共举，实现古镇旅游的可持续发展。     

农村乡镇垃圾管理的可持续发展探讨——四川孝儿镇垃圾管理分类成本研究

四川省珙县孝儿镇是国内在农村乡镇率先开展垃圾分类尝试的地区之一。论文采用成本分析法分析2011年四川孝儿镇垃圾管理年度成本的结构和特点,并根据成本分析结果计算垃圾管理的吨成本。分析显示在农村地区开展垃圾管理分类涉及到显性成本和隐性成本,在孝儿镇垃圾分类管理572058元的年度总开支中,显性成本占79％,隐性成本为21％。显性成本包括清运成本、终端处置和管理成本。隐性成本对长期开展垃圾分类有着重要的支持作用,包括监督和支持人力成本、社区能力建设和宣传教育成本。提高分类回收率和就近利用率以及吸引私人资本参与垃圾管理可优化成本,增强垃圾管理的经济可持续性。     

遥感技术在小城镇发展规划中的应用

对卫星遥感技术在小城镇发展规划中的应用进行了分析，包括小城镇空间布局信息分析、小城镇区位分析和小城镇环境污染分析，介绍了遥感技术在小城镇变化监测中的应用。分析表明，遥感技术能为小城镇发展规划提供众多基础数据，具有广阔的应用前景，但不能完全取代地面调查。     

Purpose-Driven Public Sector Reform: The Need for Within-Government Capacity Build for the Management of Slope Stability in Communities in the Caribbean

This article stresses the importance of within-government capacity build as the optimal approach to minimizing landslide risk to the most vulnerable communities in the developing world. Landslide risk is an integrated issue that demands strong managerial leadership and multidisciplinary inclusion to develop structures that deliver sustainable improvements in the reduction of risk. The tension between projects demanding international technical and financial intervention and those capable of “within-country” solutions are examined. More particularly, the challenges of developing a management methodology capable of energizing inter-ministry collaboration to achieve community-level action is examined in the context of a recently established program of slope stability management in St. Lucia. The program, Management of Slope Stability in Communities (MoSSaiC), is shown to have successfully fostered not only extensive technical collaboration within government but also to have energized local communities in the shared mission of capacity build through their direct involvement in the management process.     

Cost analysis of alternative methods for wastewater handling in small communities

Wastewater collection and treatment is quite important for sustainable management. It would be uneconomical and impractical to provide sewer systems and separate wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for small communities. The decision process in wastewater planning is rather important in terms of comparing the alternatives considered. The two important points in the management of wastewater at rural areas not connected to a sewer system are to develop an optimized operation strategy and to make sure that the complete system is environmentally and economically sustainable. In some regions, package treatment could be an alternative solution. However, in cases where there is an existing large WWTP, a cluster system, where sewage generated by small communities could be transported via conveyors to a centralized WWTP, could be employed. In this study, the wastewater treatment and disposal problems in small communities were addressed and an alternative wastewater handling scenario was proposed. Additionally, three wastewater handling scenarios were compared. As a case study, Gebze villages were selected.     

Ideological fundamentalism in town planning-an exploratory appraisal

Summary Modern town planning has developed from a diffuse and unstable set of philosophical and technical stimuli, to which has been added the provocations of contemporary scientific achievements. There is a persistent danger that town planning can become dehumanized persuing altruistic internally-generated rather than anthropocentric goals and objectives.This paper explores some of the basic philosophical and ideological parameters of planning as a step towards the establishment of a substantial raison d'etre for the craft—expressed succinctly it attempts to review a possible basis for ideological fundamentalism in town planning by examining the concept of social justice, the spectrum of ideology, the historical legacy of town planning and its commitment to spatial systems.After graduating at the University of Nottingham (1963), Michael Fagence spent six years in town planning research with local authorities in Britain, and with the Colin Buchanan partnership engaged on the South Hampshire Study. Research at the University of Southampton (1972), and six years lecturing at Portsmouth Polytechnic preceded migration to Australia in 1974. Since joining the Department of Regional and Town Planning at the University of Queensland research endeavours have concentrated on rural planning, especially the problems of small rural towns, and the political and philosophical milieu of town planning. A British Council Award supported research of Gosgrazhdanstroy in the Soviet Union (1975), and six months were spent as Visiting Research Fellow at the University of Southampton (1978).     

A CATALYST FOR REGIONALIZATION OF RURAL WATER SYSTEMS1

ABSTRACT: The National Regulatory Research Institute has recommended the merger of small rural water districts in the United States. Success at bringing about merger of these districts, which contain fewer than 3,500 customers, has been highly limited. The subject of this paper is a demonstration project that may act as a catalyst to achieve the desired goal of regionalization. A computerized hydraulic data management program (CHDMP) was developed for a case study in Nelson County, Kentucky. University professors, graduate students, and two water utilities’ staffs cooperated in network analysis employing computer hardware and software. The utilities’ staffs were taught the science and technology of hydraulic model preparation, simulation, and analysis for the case study distribution systems. As an integrated system, the model contained 294 pipes, 234 nodes, six pumps, and 11 tanks. Each utility's problem areas were identified and some of the individual and mutual benefits of hydraulic planning were illustrated. A dialogue resulted between the managers. Each manager described his goals and agreed that, although political merger was not feasible at the present time, future economic factors could be a definite influence in reversing that decision.     

重庆市某小城镇地表水污染控制及可持续发展规划研究

以重庆市渝西地区某小城镇环境规划为例，分析了该镇地表水存在的污染问题，并迎合该镇可持续发展的需要，制定了一系列地表水污染控制规划方案，分析了规划方案的环境效益。     

小城镇环境保护规划存在的问题与对策

根据全国生态环境保护“十五”计划要求,在计划期间力争60％的小城镇完成环境保护规划,广西小城镇由于经济发展不平衡,部分小城镇还比较落后,且存在较多的环境问题,目前小城镇的环境保护规划尚未得到有效的开展,因此应及时找出问题和差距,并根据存在的问题作出相应的对策,在计划期内是可以完成小城镇环境保护规划的目标,为广西小城镇的可待续发展提供环境保障。     

发展循环经济是农村城镇化环境保护的必然抉择

农村城镇化在给农村经济带来繁荣和发展的同时，也带来了外部不经济问题。伴随着农村城镇化进程的加快，农村及城镇环境污染越来越严重。要协调好城镇发展与环境保护问题就必须发展循环经济，在城镇建立起企业内部清洁生产、企业间生态工业园区、工农业的多级生态链接、社会循环利用四个层次的循环模式，实现经济效益、生态效益和社会效益的统一。     

Community Sustainability Plans to enable change towards sustainable practice – a Scottish case study

There is a need for a global shift towards a low-carbon society and this requires action at the local level. The aim of the study into sustainable community development is to clarify the role of a community as a whole rather than the role of individuals within that community. Mixed methods of literature review and empirical study have been used to translate the knowledge and experience with urban sustainable development into empirical knowledge of a rural, market town setting. The exemplary case study is the Scottish market town Huntly. The main findings of the study show the need for three ingredients for a Community Sustainability Plan for a town such as Huntly. Community involvement is crucial in developing such plans in a rural setting. Further research in more remote settings, e.g. coastal and island communities, is needed to allow broader conclusions on rural sustainable development.     

Community engagement as a component of revitalization: Lessons learned from the Technical Outreach Services to Communities programme

Community involvement has been identified as an important factor in the successful redevelopment of contaminated land, and access to technical resources has been a barrier for some communities. This paper describes how the US Environmental Protection Agency funded Technical Outreach Services to Communities programme was used to support four communities involved in land revitalization. The four New England case studies were used to retrospectively draw lessons learned that could be useful to others interested in similar community work. We suggest that the broad lessons point to four factors for success, namely, where there is: (1) a common vision in the community; (2) a cohesive community; (3) an opportunity for co-learning; and (4) a commitment among the parties for long-term engagement. We conclude that technical support can serve as a useful framework for developing trustful and long-term relationships with communities.     

浅析八五七农场小城镇建设中的生态环境保护

以黑龙江垦区八五七农场小城镇建设为出发点,分析了八五七农场在小城镇建设中生态环境保护的实践经验,从环境规划、环保基础设施建设、污染防控、环境教育和环境监督管理方面,提出了小城镇建设中应注意的生态环境保护问题及建议。     

A WATER RESOURCE PLANNING PROCEDURE FOR RURAL TOWNS1

ABSTRACT: Six new techniques have been developed for lake watershed analysis and water resource management. The techniques are for determining: (1) watershed land use intensity with reference to water quality, (2) lake vulnerability, (3) water quality, (4) watershed carrying capacity, (5) the economic value of the lake, and (6) the potential of undeveloped lake-shore. These analyses are designed for use by rural planning commissions with guidance and assistance from state agencies and the state university. The comprehensive rural watershed land and water use plan developed by this procedure is inexpensive in time and money, understandable by the layman, and scientificially sound. It is based on presently available information. This water resource planning procedure has been demonstrated in several town planning projects. It is suggested that this method, or modification of it, could be adopted in all rural states by action by a few administrators and without any new enabling or appropriations legislation.     

村镇生态化治理的问题、经验及对策

中国现代化的关键是农村现代化,中国绿色化的关键是村镇绿色化。本文在广泛调研并汲取他山经验和教训的基础上,提出村镇生态化治理的八大理念:坚持村镇规划的分区化,以功能分区原则引领村镇生态化建设;坚持村镇环境的宜居化,以人地和谐原则引领村镇生态化建设;坚持村镇道路的差异化,以融通古今原则引领村镇道路的分类建设;坚持村镇民居的特色化,以产品差别原则构筑村镇建筑的个性化特征;坚持村镇水系的生态化,以水体灵动原则引领村镇生态化建设;坚持村镇资源的循环化,以绿色发展理念引领自然资源高效利用;坚持村镇景观的园艺化,以美丽乡村目标引领村镇美丽家园建设;坚持村镇治理的科学化,以各司其职理念构建多主体协同治理格局。     

EXPERIMENTS IN IMPROVING RURAL WATER SUPPLIES1

ABSTRACT: A series of studies and experiments were conducted to identify rural water supply quality problems and to develop and demonstrate solutions. We found that rural people had severe and widespread problems, while state agencies held potential answers. Communications between experts and town officials were weak or absent. To bridge this gap, an information system was devised and tested. A computer program was developed to provide a printout map of the state, showing town boundaries and the quality of water supplies for each public water system monitored by the State Health Department. The map and data were published in local newspapers with an explanation of the map and its symbols. Town health officers were interviewed to determine the results of the public disclosure. We found that the news releases led to increased awareness, interest, and understanding of water quality and demands for ameliorative action. This program was supplemented by two publications: “A Layman's Guide to Eutrophication” and “A Handbook for Rural Water Uses.” The handbook explains the nature of drinking water standards, the reasons for these standards, the dangers and results of not meeting the standards, and cost-effective alternatives for improving water quality.     

RURAL WATER SUPPLIES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES1

The best available figures indicate that on a global basis only about 10 per cent of the rural populations have a safe source of water, with the Region of the Americas having the highest coverage at 19 per cent. The program of the Second U.N. Decade proposed to supply coverage to about 200 million persons at an estimated cost of 1.6 billion dollars by 1980. The elements of a rural water supply program are presented, then the difference between rural and urban supplies in such areas as community participation, financing, technical assistance, etc., are discussed. The use of revolving funds to help finance this effort, and the use of the mass approach to help the governments increase their program coverage, are also presented. This paper concludes that while much has been done in the 60's, much remains to be done, but that the basic tools for this effort are available.     

Rural industries and water pollution in China

Water pollution from small rural industries is a serious problem throughout China. Over half of all river sections monitored for water quality are rated as being unsafe for human contact, and this pollution is estimated to cost several per cent of GDP. While China has some of the toughest environmental protection laws in the world, the implementation of these laws in rural areas is not effective. This paper explains the reasons for this implementation gap. It argues that the factors that have underpinned the economic success of rural industry are precisely the same factors that cause water pollution from rural industry to remain such a serious problem in China. This means that the control of rural water pollution is not simply a technical problem of designing a more appropriate governance system, or finding better policy instruments or more funding. Instead, solutions lie in changes in the model that underpins rural development in China.