Batesville Makes Environment Priority with New Facilities (Environmental | Winner, Class II)

From water treatment to transportation, Batesville’s recent city developments have displayed a commitment to environmentally friendly practices. The city’s recent initiatives began in 2009 with the Batesville Wastewater Treatment Facilities Improvements Project, Master Pedestrian and Cycling Plan and Batesville Community Center and Aquatics Park Project. All of the projects balanced community desires and needs with a commitment to environmental safety and sustainability.

The wastewater project made strides in environmentally conscious technology for both the state and nation. The mere construction of the project’s sewer and tunnels save 62 percent of energy by relying on gravity rather than pumping water. The city utilizes its location in the mountainous Ozarks to strategically plan sewer treatments downhill and toward the facility. This energy saving system is complimented by Entergy’s coal-fired power plant, which supplies power for the city. According to the EPA Emissions and Generation Resource Integrated Database, the tunnel system reduces sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide and mercury released into the air by the plant.

Batesville saves enough on energy to qualify for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Project under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. In addition to a $12.6 million award, the city is estimated to save $90 thousand a year in energy costs.

Beyond the pipes and tunnels, the wastewater facility itself is making strides in environmental technology. The facility, completed in March of 2016, contains the state’s only Moving Bed Bio-Reactor. Batesville is home to largest facility of its kind in the nation. High efficiency equipment only complements the MBBR, and helps remove pollutants in both water for the city and released back into the White River.

The system has exceeded the city’s expectations and now releases water after decontamination that is cleaner that the river itself. This helps protect wildlife and provide better drinking water for others utilizing the White River. This facility and the pipes and tunnels system landed Batesville on former Vice President Joe Biden’s report “100 Recovery Projects That Are Changing America.”

Outside of the facility, the city is in the process of developing a series of carefully placed walking and biking trails. These trails are planned to connect neighborhoods and schools within heavily used parts of the city to encourage walking and biking. If successful, this will drastically decrease the city’s carbon footprint. If citizens cut down on their daily transportation, they’ll use less natural fuels, such as gasoline, and release fewer toxins into the air.

Along the city’s current trail is the Batesville Community Garden. Aside from providing delicious, local food, the program encourages buying from local vendors and farmer’s markets.

According to Batesville’s Food and Growers Association’s website, “small and mid-sized farms generally use sustainable agricultural practices safeguarding the quality of our water and soil.” Small farmers tend to avoid pesticides, whether due to cost or environmental awareness, which helps provide clean ground water. Buying and growing local also reduces the city’s carbon footprint by avoiding major food transportation, and thus using less natural gas and releasing fewer toxins.

The city offers public tours of it facilities for other city officials to observe and consider. Batesville also encourages nearby cities to utilize the mountainous terrain to incorporate a similar pipes and tunnels systems.

Batesville’s commitment to environmental wellness is apparent in its dedication to creating and maintaining some of the state’s top green facilities.

As a pioneer in water and energy conservation, Batesville isn’t shy about sharing its developments in hopes of promoting statewide environmental programs.