Thunder Valley Regenerative Community Sustainable Wastewater Infrastructure

Tribal youth-focused regenerative housing and economic development project seeks to incorporate sustainable wastewater treatment and reuse into a holistic plan for restoration and water conservation.

Biohabitats provided a sustainable wastewater infrastructure assessment for the proposed Thunder Valley Regenerative Community development located in the Porcupine District on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. The project aims to incorporate sustainable and affordable wastewater infrastructure for treatment and reuse into the planned 34-acre mixed-use development site.

Driven by a need for more housing, business opportunities, and services on the Reservation, the Lakota-led project intends to create a sustainable, interconnected, and healthy community that build on traditional values while promoting innovative, homegrown Native solutions. A triple bottom line intent has been adopted by the Thunder Valley Community Development Corporation to ensure the project considers social needs, environmental responsibility, and economic vitality. The client desired a wastewater treatment and reuse system that was affordable, simple to operate and maintain, energy and space efficient, and capable of providing reuse- and surface-water discharge quality effluent on a consistent basis, even in the cold winters of South Dakota. The ecological impacts and operational costs associated with sludge generation and electricity consumption were also of concern.

Biohabitats explored multiple on-site wastewater treatment, reuse and discharge options, keeping in mind not only cost and space requirements, but also environmental and aesthetic benefits to the community. Evaluated technologies were based upon USDA criteria for seeking funding, that included water quality, environmental impacts, footprint, budgetary costs, O&M costs, and sludge production. Biohabitats took the evaluation a few steps further, and outlined options for water reuse, irrigation, and effluent discharge that reduced water demand while supporting community prairie and riparian restoration efforts.

TAGS

• Analysis+Planning
• Assessment+Monitoring
• Resilient Water Systems