“Without them, nothing would have happened.”

That’s Todd Carlson, program coordinator in the engineering office of the Duluth, Minnesota, Department of Public Works and Utilities, talking about his city’s successful program to eliminate wet weather overflows and meet the terms of a consent decree a year ahead of the deadline.

By “them,” he’s not referring to consultants, contractors, regulators or city officials. He means the public.

“The public was a critical...