Asset Sustainability

Asset management is maintaining a desired level of service for what you want your assets to provide at the lowest life cycle cost. Lowest life cycle cost refers to best practices and appropriate cost for rehabilitating, repairing or replacing an asset. Asset management is implemented through an asset management program and typically includes a written asset management plan.

The challenges facing water and wastewater infrastructure (including stormwater management systems) include:

Determining the best (or optimal) time to rehabilitate, repair or replace aging assets;
Uncertainties about climate change upon stormwater runoff frequencies, flows and contaminant loadings;
New regulatory requirements;
Responding to emergencies (as a result of asset failures); and,
Protecting assets

Although the watershed protection concept is now accepted, it is essential to translate this interest into rational and logical processes that capture the interest of decision makers and (most important) the public. If asset sustainability in conjunction with watershed management directives are to be effective, it must be implemented with regulatory policies and legislation. But asset sustainability is not all about science for there are many components that are not strictly science based. Organization and structure, funding, public involvement and decision making that transcend political boundaries are essential to develop effective strategies – whether at the watershed or subwatershed level.

GREENLAND^® environmental projects use professional, multi-disciplinary teams. The cost of pre-emptive environmental planning is a small percentage of new development costs. Despite its low cost, it provides invaluable information that can save money during infrastructure design and construction stages. It can also prevent costly remediation and rehabilitation works.

Our team of experts firmly believes that to improve the quality of life, society must first protect what is already healthy. Each project is client driven and ultimately generated by the unique set of circumstances that influence the area that is being considered for development. While tools and methods may change from time to time, our commitment to the needs of our clients is a priority.

Strategic asset management for water and wastewater infrastructure must have regard for “watersheds”, as well as cumulative effects and climate change, since watersheds are exceedingly intricate and inter-dependent complexes of land, water, plants and animals.

The watershed is also now recognized as the priority unit for identifying and managing water supply and wastewater treatment systems. However, this approach to find sustainable asset solutions can place significant pressures on resource agency managers and planners to provide leadership and innovation.

Since incorporation (over 30 years ago), our corporate brand has regard for asset sustainability principles since we combine traditional engineering methods and bio-mimicry principles with 'smart' technologies. We also pioneered a responsible corporate brand with an environmental protection, conservationist ethic and climate adaptation priorities too.

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Client Testimonials

Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority

The Authority’s mission is to provide leadership in the restoration and protection of the environmental health and quality of Lake Simcoe and its watershed with our community, municipal and other government partners. As a resource management agency, we rely on decision support tools such as Greenland’s CANWET model. It continues to play a key role in informing our watershed management planning decisions in relation to policy development, stewardship priorities and education and communication programs.

As always, I look forward to our continued working relationship with you and your colleagues. The Authority appreciates your hard work, and we are confident that this study will prove beneficial in our collaborative goal to improve the health of the Lake Simcoe watershed.

Michael Walters
Chief Administrative Officer
Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority
November 4, 2014

Town of Collingwood

RE: Town of Collingwood ‘Smart’ Stormwater Project

I would like to thank and recognize GREENLAND® for their leadership role in the above project. Your firm identified the opportunity to work together with other private firms and public sector organizations, together with the support of the Town of Collingwood and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, to address a growing Concern in communities related to lot-level flood mitigation.

GREENLAND® strategized and implemented, over almost 3 years, the “first-ever in Canada” work plan to mitigate problems of climate-change induced stormwater flooding which impacts many residential, commercial and institutional properties. The innovative project approach monitored 4 different Low Impact Development (LID) approaches for reducing lot-level flooding and their ability to redirect site drainage away from municipal sewer systems. Using innovative real-time (aka ‘Smart’) technologies, GREENLAND® was also able to generate ‘Big Data’ that provided new insights into the effectiveness of these different approaches. The GREENLAND® team’s level of commitment, thoroughness and professionalism was appreciated by the municipality. GREENLAND® maintained open lines of communication with Town staff, contractors, participating residents, and promptly responded to all questions and issues raised by the public.

We commend your firm’s efforts as a pioneer in implementing this project approach.

Sonya Skinner
Acting Chief Administrative Officer
Town of Collingwood
June 2, 2020

Cortel Group

Greenland and Dr. Goss played an important role in identifying issues with the initial study proposal.

This led to the Province and Williams Treaty First Nations reaching a resolution based on manageable terms.

With thanks,

Elsa Fancello
Project Manager
Cortel Group (Vaughan, Canada)
November 20, 2024

Corporate Partnerships & Associations