Presenters:

Peter Muñoz, Senior Engineer, Natural Systems International

Erin English, Associate Engineer, Natural Systems International

Becca Hanson, Principal, Studio Hanson-Roberts

Decentralized water projects can assist with rapid transformation to sustainable water systems. Gaining community ownership and creating real economic and social value remains a challenge because projects are often invisible, too expensive, or lacking interpretive gusto. This session will present lessons learned from several buildings designed to treat and recycle 100% of their wastewater using natural and mechanical approaches. Many of these systems are in visitor’s centers/schools, with their impact being inspiration and education. Facilitators will lead small group discussion to address the following question: how do we make the leap beyond the ‘demonstration’ phase to the next generation of sustainable water approaches that build community, inspire and educate users, and regenerate economies? Small groups will be asked to develop a set of criteria that can be used to evaluate sustainable water solutions. Participants will then use the criteria to analyze water approaches for the Seattle metro area. 

Presenter Bios

Pete Muñoz

Pete is a licensed Professional Engineer and Certified Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. He has degrees in Biosystems and Civil/Environmental Engineering. Pete has been asked to speak around the country on a variety of topics including decentralized wastewater management, constructed wetlands, ecological design, eco-footprinting, and climate change solutions. As Senior Engineer, he oversees many of NSI’s engineering and design projects in the United States and abroad. Pete teaches at several water related courses at Yestermorrow Design/Build.

Erin English

Erin has worked in both non-profit and design firm environments on sustainable water infrastructure. She has studied permaculture and sustainable design and works to integrate these concepts into NSI’s wastewater and stormwater projects. As a lead designer under Living Machine Inventor Dr. John Todd, Erin has long answered the call for the ‘Living Machine’. Prepared to dispel the myths, she has successfully integrated early lessons learned to maximize the potential of integrated water system infrastructure.

Becca Hanson

Becca Hanson is a Fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects and a founding partner of two well‐respected design firms. As a Landscape Architect, Becca has developed world wide recognized expertise in the planning and design of powerful places that convey stories linking us to our place the world. Her focus has been integrating a detailed understanding of natural ecosystem dynamics and sustainable practices with social psychology, policy planning, learning theory, horticulture and aesthetics.