Equitable distribution of green stormwater infrastructure: a capacity-based framework for implementation in disadvantaged communities

ABSTRACT

This study seeks to understand the factors that influence the variability in distribution of public and private sector investments in green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) projects across the diversity of neighbourhoods in the City of Philadelphia, PA, U.S.A. using indicators of community context and capacity. For this study, context is defined as characteristics of disadvantaged communities and capacity as factors that facilitate individual and collective action. Community context and capacity are deemed integral to the success of the Philadelphia GSI programme as the Philadelphia Water Department is relying upon collaborative approaches to facilitate public investments in neighbourhoods and voluntary implementation of GSI practices on publically and privately owned lands. Private sector investments in GSI mandated by stormwater regulations for new construction and major rehabilitation also are assessed in relation to these two sets of indicators. The geographic information systems and statistical analyses reveal an inequitable distribution of GSI projects, which largely is driven by market forces. The paper concludes with a community capacity-based framework to prioritise public sector investment in disadvantaged communities to achieve more equitable distribution of GSI projects and associated benefits.

KEYWORDS:

• Community capacity
• equitable development
• environmental justice
• green stormwater infrastructure
• GIS analysis

Acknowledgements

This publication was developed under Assistance Agreement No. 83555701 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. It has not been formally reviewed by EPA. The views expressed in this document are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Agency. EPA does not endorse any products or commercial services mentioned in this publication. The authors would like to thank Brian Blacker for his contribution to the GIS analysis while a graduate student in the Department of Planning and Community Development programme and research assistant at the Center for Sustainable Communities, Temple University.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Lynn Mandarano http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5477-7630

Mahbubur Meenar http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0869-3249

Notes

1 Non-residential census tracts (2010) excluded from the analysis were identified using the following methods: (1) US Census Tract 9800 series was utilised to identify tracts that encompass a large area and have little or no residential population such as large parks or employment areas (https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/gtc/gtc_ct.html), and (2) Population density less than 500 people per square mile (https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/pdfs/fedreg/fedregv76n164.pdf). The analysis was further refined to just the CSO area of the city as PWD has a greater incentive to implement green stormwater infrastructure in areas of the city on a CSO system. The residential census tracts GIS shape file was clipped to the modified CSO boundary to create the final geographic boundaries for the analysis.

2 Point data were analysed based on a simple count (number of points per tract polygon). Execution of polygon data was done by performing spatial joins with census tract boundaries (clipped to residential CSO area). Five polygons had to be manually assigned to a tract because they were split between two tract boundaries. They were assigned to the tract in which the centroid of the polygon rested.

Additional information

Funding

This research has been supported by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s [EPA-G2012-STAR-G1] Science to Achieve Results (STAR) programme. This publication was developed under Assistance Agreement No. 83555701 awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.