Environmental Complexity Factor—Sustainability and Water Resources

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the process that Wake County government is utilizing to incorporate sustainability into the management of the county’s water resources. The process consists of evaluating and subsequently reducing the county’s environmental complexity factor (ECF) as it relates to sustainability and water resources. Threadcraft defined ECF as a relationship between project complexity and organizational action. “The more complex the analysis, the longer it takes an organization to make a decision. This is evident by many projects being placed on hold for an indefinite period of time in an effort for a political group to avoid the ramifications of the outcome independent of the pending impact to the environment.” In fiscal year 2013, the Wake County board of commissioners (BOC) approved an expansion request that authorized the hiring of a Hydrogeologist and the subsequent establishment of a contaminated groundwater program. This action was taken to address contaminated groundwater concerns in Wake County. Through the growth, land use, and environment committee, the BOC is currently evaluating the feasibility of a water partnership. Environmental services staff conducted research to evaluate the interest of stakeholders and define the scope of responsibility for the partnership to include the parameters that outline the requirements for its success. Simultaneously, the county is enhancing sustainability in areas consisting of water, energy, and waste. In summary, this paper will statistically evaluate the county’s actions to reduce its ECF as it relates to sustainability and water resources.