PVC Pipe Industry: Congress shouldn’t write blank checks for water infrastructure
Posted by: Maven on January 7, 2012 at 8:50 amFrom the Sacramento Bee, this press release from the PVC Pipe Association:
“”Billions needed to upgrade America’s leaky water infrastructure” was the headline in a recent Washington Post front-page story. While action must be taken, the PVC Pipe Association is urging Congress not to write blank checks to local governments and utilities with outdated, closed procurement policies that exclude corrosion-proof piping materials for water and wastewater infrastructure. Open competition, which is an American value, must be the operating principle upon which all funding is provided.
Each year, more than 300,000 water main breaks occur throughout North America – or some 850 every day – mainly as a result of the continued use of corrosion-prone iron piping in the nation’s water systems. Moreover, according to a congressional study, corrosion costs U.S. drinking water and wastewater systems over $50.7 billion annually, or more than $1 trillion dollars over the next twenty years.
“Taxpayers are getting soaked by the high costs of crumbling infrastructure and repeated water main breaks. They’re also footing the costs of millions of gallons of lost water supply on their utility bills,” said PVC Pipe Association Executive Director Bruce Hollands. “Unfortunately, the solution for many local officials is a band-aid approach of repairing or replacing our water mains with the same outdated and inferior iron pipes that currently make up much of our underground water systems. This material hasn’t stood up to the test of time so it makes no sense to waste taxpayer dollars by installing more of it.” … “
Continue reading this press release from the PVC Pipe Association by clicking here.
It’s time to repair and prepare our water infrastructure, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on January 5, 2012 at 8:40 amFrom Capitol Weekly, this commentary by Daniel Curtin, a commissioner on the State Water Commission:
“As we look in the rear view mirror at California’s driest December in decades it reminds us of two things.
First, California is essentially an arid state sprinkled with sporadic periods of heavy precipitation. Last rainy season was one of the wettest on record; this year may be one of the driest.
Second, all indications are that impending climate change will make our weather even more extreme, unfortunately much drier and hotter with less, but just as unpredictable, rain and snow.
On the bright side, our governor understands this. At his recent conference on extreme climate risks Gov. Brown stated the problem with his characteristic directness saying we need to “wake people up… to the threats of climate change.” In fact, 2011 set the record for the number of billion-dollar disasters in the United State resulting from extreme weather events; blizzards, hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, drought, floods, and heat waves to name a few. … “
Continue reading this commentary at Capitol Weekly by clicking here.
Senate holds bipartisan hearing on the nation’s water infrastructure
Posted by: Maven on December 17, 2011 at 7:51 amFrom ACWA’s Water News:
“The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife held a hearing on “Our Nation’s Water Infrastructure: Challenges and Opportunities” December 13. Bipartisan sentiment ran through the hearing, both parties mutually agreed on the witnesses and expressed support for increased funding for water infrastructure.
In his opening statement Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chairman of the Subcommittee, emphasized the large number jobs created by funding infrastructure projects. Senator Sessions (R-Ala.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee, expressed his support for infrastructure funding as a way to create jobs saying, it was a better way to stimulate the economy than a payroll tax holiday. … “
Continue reading from ACWA’s Water News by clicking here.
MORE: You can read the testimony and view the webcast by clicking here.
Billions needed for water infrastructure, new report warns
Posted by: Maven on December 16, 2011 at 8:15 amFrom ACWA’s Water News:
“Investment in water infrastructure is not keeping up with the need, and the nation faces a funding gap of up to $84 billion by 2020 if current trends continue, the American Society of Civil Engineers warns in a report released this week.
The report, “Failure to Act: The Economic Impact of Current Investment Trends in Water and Wastewater Treatment Infrastructure,” notes that much of the nation’s drinking water infrastructure is old and in need of replacement. Without aggressive capital investment, pipes will leak, construction of new facilities will be delayed and waters will be polluted, and the problem will become even more expensive, the report says. … “
Continue reading from ACWA’s Water News by clicking here.
Wednesday’s top of the scroll: Water concerns linger despite rains; New poll shows water still a concern for Californians
Posted by: Maven on December 14, 2011 at 9:06 amFrom the San Diego Union-Tribune:
“A new poll by Field Research shows California residents remain worried about long term water supplies even though reservoirs are at or near record levels.
The survey was conducted in late November for the Association of California Water Agencies, an alliance of departments that deliver water to most of the state’s residents. It’s part of a long walk-up toward a November 2012 vote on a bond that would pay for upgrades and expansion to the state’s aging water supply system.
Three-fourths of respondents cited concern about water, with 28 percent “extremely” concerned and 47 percent “somewhat” concerned. In addition, 84 percent said the state has major water problems and must invest in its water infrastructure to ensure future reliability. … “
Continue reading from the San Diego Union-Tribune by clicking here.
From ACWA’s Water News:
” … The survey, conducted in late November by Field Research Corporation on behalf of ACWA, found that three in four voters (75%) are concerned about water, with 28% extremely concerned and 47% somewhat concerned. In addition, an overwhelming majority (84%) agrees the state has major water problems and must invest in its water infrastructure to ensure reliable water now and in future years.
Six in 10 voters (62%) believe investing billions of dollars in a state bond package such as the one on the November 2012 ballot would be worth it to ensure reliable water supplies, according to the survey. That figure includes 40% who strongly agree and 22% who somewhat agree.
Mark DiCamillo, senior vice president with Field Research, said the findings indicate water has not dropped off the radar for Californians even as the economy and unemployment dominate headlines and voter concerns.
“You still have a significant majority saying they are concerned about water, even though there are huge concerns about the economy today,” said DiCamillo, who has surveyed Californians regarding water and other issues for over 20 years. “There is also a core base of support for investing public dollars in upgrading and expanding the state’s water system through a water bond. That base is about 40%, with another 22% that is sympathetic and inclined to feel that way. ” … “
Continue reading this article from ACWA’s Water News by clicking here, which includes links to the results of the survey.
ASCE Report: Failure to Act: The economic impact of current investment trends in water and wastewater infrastructure
Posted by: Maven on December 14, 2011 at 8:01 am
From the American Society of Civil Engineers:
“Infrastructure is the lifeline of our economy, and like everything, it has a lifespan. In many areas, the roads, drinking water systems and dams are simply too old. ASCE’s 2009 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure graded the U.S. infrastructure with a “D.”
Now, ASCE has launched a new series of reports that take a closer look at the economic impacts of our failing infrastructure in America. These economic studies look forward to 2020 and 2040 to determine potential impacts on GDP, personal income, and jobs if current infrastructure investment trends continue.
The first was released in July 2011 and focused on surface transportation. Other subsequent reports focus on water, energy, and marine port and airport facilities. The final summary report is expected in mid-2012.
Download the executive summary of the upcoming report on water infrastructure. The full report will be released on December 15, 2011. “
‘Shovel-ready’ jobs could help relieve droughts, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on December 3, 2011 at 7:15 amFrom Fox Business, this commentary:
“We have floods costing billions in part of the country and droughts costing billions in other parts — imagine a “shovel ready” job to address both issues.
The Mississippi River’s main function is to move freight, and being able to better control the flooding of the Mississippi and the result that would have on flood zones and insurance rates in those areas would be enormous. The 1993 Mississippi River flood cost an estimated $15 billion in damages. …
Civilizations have moved water over great areas for centuries; think of the possibility of moving the excess from the Mississippi River to the Ogallala aquifer and the Colorado River.
A plan is in place to do just that. … “
Continue reading this commentary at Fox Business by clicking here.
YouTube: San Francisco Public Utilities Commission’s automated water meters
Posted by: Maven on October 22, 2011 at 6:08 amFrom the San Francisco Public Utilities District, posted on YouTube:
“We are the first major California water utility to install the technology, also known as Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), for each of our 175,000+ retail customer accounts.”
Making city water systems flow
Posted by: Maven on October 11, 2011 at 7:31 amFrom Science Today at the University of California:
“Water treatment plants and sewage treatment plants were built in the United States mainly after the Second World War, during a time with a lot of building and a lot of investment in infrastructure and these systems are starting to fall apart.
They’re reaching the end of their useful lifetimes. Couple that with climate change and increased populations and we’re heading for a real crisis. A crisis where we may not be able to provide enough water to our cities or where we’re going to be constantly patching these things as they fall apart. You have to think not about the small changes that we need to get through next week’s problem, but you have to think about a new system that will be there in ten or twenty years. … “
Continue reading from Science Today at the University of California by clicking here.
Peter Gleick: Jobs and water for America
Posted by: Maven on October 6, 2011 at 8:32 amFrom Forbes, this commentary by Peter Gleick and Phaedra Ellis-Lamkins:
“Every year, our old water infrastructure spills 860 million gallons of untreated waste into America’s waterways, including raw or partially treated sewage, bacteria, parasites, synthetic hormones, pharmaceuticals, and agricultural wastes. We have old leaky pipes and outdated water-treatment systems. Our irrigation systems are inefficient and our home water-using appliances outmoded. People increasingly fear our tap water and spend billions for bottled water in the mistaken belief it is somehow better.
This is inexcusable for a developed nation, or frankly, any nation, and it is preventable. Even better, preventing it can create jobs: good jobs that pay well. By recent estimates, just fixing our stormwater and wastewater systems would generate nearly 1.9 million jobs – one for every seven people who is out of work. … “
Continue reading this commentary at Forbes by clicking here.
Report: upgrading water systems can reduce pollution – and put nearly 1.9 million people to work: New report from Green For All shows the broad economic and environmental benefits of upgrading our water systems
Posted by: Maven on October 5, 2011 at 8:22 am
From Green for All, received via email:
“Want to create nearly 1.9 million American jobs and add $265 billion to the economy? Upgrade our water and wastewater infrastructure. That’s the message of a new report released today by Green For All, in partnership with American Rivers, the Economic Policy Institute and the Pacific Institute. The Rockefeller Foundation generously provided funding for the project.
Every year, sewage overflows dump 860 billion gallons of untreated sewage into our water systems – enough to cover the entire state of Pennsylvania with waste one-inch deep. But investment in our nation’s infrastructure to handle stormwater and wastewater has lagged, falling by one-third since its 1975 peak.
The report, Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs, Greening the Environment, looks at an investment of $188.4 billion in water infrastructure – the amount the EPA indicates would be required to manage stormwater and preserve water quality. That investment would inject a quarter of a trillion dollars into the economy, create nearly 1.3 million direct and indirect jobs in related sectors and result in 568,000 additional jobs from increased spending.
Further, the report notes that this is the best moment to make the investment. With the recession creating a shortfall of 11.1 million jobs that would be needed to keep pace with the population and 9.1% unemployment, these are jobs that are critically needed. Moreover, the cost of financing these essential upgrades is at historic lows, and the still-struggling economy means much cheaper construction costs. Investing in green infrastructure approaches that more closely mimic natural systems is part of the solution – and further provides the additional benefits of reducing pollution of creeks and other waterways, saving energy, and increasing green space in urban areas.
Tim Quinn: Financing our water future may be this generation’s biggest challenge
Posted by: Maven on September 24, 2011 at 7:02 amFrom ACWA’s Voices on Water, this blog post by Tim Quinn:
“There can be little doubt that California’s water system is in need of a major upgrade. Large-scale investments are needed in everything from water storage capacity to water recycling facilities to levees. Substantial investments in ecosystem restoration and habitat improvements also are needed if we are to meet the co-equal goals of improved water supply reliability and ecosystem health.
Financing these investments is one of the key challenges facing this generation of water managers. The topic is fueling discussion in nearly every corner of the water policy arena, including a workshop convened this week by the Delta Stewardship Council. The Legislative Analyst’s Office and the Public Policy Institute of California have weighed in, and a new work group is tackling the issue as part of the California Water Plan process. … “
Continue reading from ACWA’s Voices on Water blog by clicking here.
Water rule may tap building, infrastructure funds
Posted by: Maven on September 22, 2011 at 8:53 amFrom Capitol Weekly:
“One state agency’s effort to meet federal rules and tighten California’s environmental controls over rainwater runoff on hundreds of state roads and Caltrans properties has drawn a sharp response from another state agency – Caltrans — and road builders who say the draft plan would divert hundreds of millions of dollars away from construction projects.
The State Water Resources Control Board, the state’s top water-quality enforcer is drafting and revising the plan, which is intended to go into effect next year. The five-year permit, expanding on existing regulations, is required by the federal Clean Water Act. It applies to all Caltrans facilities throughout California.
“Stormwater runoff is a source of pollution in our waters, and federal law requires it (the Caltrans permit), “said Jonathan Bishop, chief deputy director of the State Water Board. “This is related to how they (Caltrans) manage the road network system and to make sure they are not making the water quality worse.” … “
Continue reading from Capitol Weekly by clicking here.
When times get tough it’s time to build stuff, says commentary
Posted by: Maven on September 15, 2011 at 8:27 amFrom Capitol Weekly, this commentary by Jim Earp:
“Eighty years ago, California, like the rest of the nation, was gripped by the Great Depression. So what did we do? We went out and built Shasta Dam.
I like that story. I read it sometimes before I go to bed to restore my faith in humanity.Of course, there’s a little more to this tale than the three-sentence punch-line above, but the great thing is, the more we delve into the details, the more we find in them a lesson to incorporate into our thinking – and doing – today.
In the early 1900s, farmers in the Central Valley had for decades been suffering the realities of California’s Mediterranean climate. On any given year, they faced the prospect of being slammed by raging winter storms and flooding or alternatively by life-choking droughts and no water for their crops. Additionally, farmers found that with increased irrigation in the valley, the reduced river flows were allowing salt water to creep into the Delta from the San Francisco Bay. … “
Continue reading from Capitol Weekly by clicking here.
State of the Planet blog: Western water woes – Is big infrastructure the way to go?
Posted by: Maven on September 6, 2011 at 8:15 amFrom Columbia University’s State of the Planet blog:
“Pat Mulroy, the general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority, spoke on July 20 at a US Chamber of Commerce conference, as part of its Invest in Water Initiative, and proposed a bold idea: build a pipeline to divert Mississippi River flood waters to the West. This, she said, would alleviate stress on the Colorado River system. That she proposed what some would consider an outlandish project at such a venue is an indication of her seriousness or, as some would say, desperation.
Desperation may well be accurate. The Southern Nevada Water Authority (SNWA), which supplies water to Las Vegas, is struggling to keep the water on. It built, at a cost of $700m, Intake No. 3, which is lower than the other two, higher intakes at Lake Mead, its primary source of water. The purpose: build another straw in case the other two became obsolete due to falling lake levels. Eleven years of drought reduced the lake to its lowest level ever in October 2010, just six feet above what is considered critical shortage stage.
The SNWA has also gone searching for more water. … “
Continue reading from the State of the Planet blog by clicking here.
Southern California water agency calls for more stimulus spending
Posted by: Maven on August 31, 2011 at 7:11 amFrom News Hawk Review:
“It is widely expected that President Obama will call for more spending on the nation’s infrastructure when he announces his jobs initiative next week.
The General Manager of one Southern California water district thinks that is a very good idea.
“We have seen many recent examples of how our infrastructure is aging. The drought in Texas and the Southwest, the earthquake on the East Coast and now Hurricane Irene have all demonstrated the need to upgrade and replace the nation’s transportation, water and flood-control systems,” said Art Aguilar, General Manager of the Central Basin Municipal Water District in Southern California. Central Basin serves more than 2 million people in southeast Los Angeles County. … “
Continue reading from the News Hawk Review by clicking here.
LAO Report: California Infrastructure Spending: A 10 year perspective
Posted by: Maven on August 28, 2011 at 7:33 amFrom the Legislative Analyst’s Office, this report on Infrastructure
“One of the basic functions of government is to provide the public infrastructure—land, streets and highways, buildings, and utility systems—that is integral to delivering public services, fostering economic growth, and enhancing the quality of life.
The state and local governments in California have developed an immense inventory of public infrastructure. As shown in Figure 1, the state’s infrastructure includes a diverse array of capital facilities associated with such programs as water resources, transportation, higher education, natural resources, criminal justice, health services, and general government services. In addition to the state government infrastructure investments shown in Figure 1, the state historically has provided some funding for local public infrastructure: K-12 schools, community colleges, local streets and roads, local parks, wastewater treatment, drinking water, flood control, and jails.
Infrastructure finance is an increasingly important issue. Much of the state’s infrastructure is aging and needs to be renovated, adapted, or improved to meet current and future needs.
Additionally, California will continue to need new infrastructure to accommodate population growth. This, in turn, will require additional resources for operations and maintenance. Over the last decade, the state took significant steps toward confronting this dual challenge of renovating and expanding infrastructure, most notably through the authorization by voters of approximately $92 billion in infrastructure-related general obligation bonds as well as the authorization of several large lease revenue bond programs.
In this report, we summarize the state’s infrastructure spending in order to provide a better understanding of how the state invests in infrastructure. (See the nearby box for a brief description of how we defined and calculated infrastructure spending.) Specifically, the report reviews the last decade to identify (1) the types of infrastructure in which the state has invested; (2) how the state financed these investments; (3) achievements and challenges in planning, funding, and implementing capital outlay projects; and (4) considerations for planning and funding future infrastructure. … “
Read this report from the Legislative Analyst’s Office by clicking here.
Increasing the Impact of Federal and State Funds for Water Infrastructure
Posted by: Susan Lauer on August 4, 2011 at 8:18 amFrom the Center for American Progress
The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that over the next 20 years, more than $600 billion in water system infrastructure improvements will be necessary. Much of the cost of these improvements will be borne by consumers. But state drinking and clean water revolving loan funds do subsidize a portion of the project costs by offering low-interest loans to water authorities and water companies for these improvements.
Continue reading from the Center for American Progress by clicking here.
You Can’t Size Your Infrastructure for the Outliers
Posted by: Susan Lauer on August 3, 2011 at 8:27 amFrom J Fleck at Inkstain
Yesterday’s post about recurring suggestion that we build giant water infrastructure was premised in part on this year’s extremely wet year on the Missouri-Mississippi system, the “Why not build a big pipe from there to the desert” argument. As I mention, I hear this idea a lot, but especially this year, when it seems like there’s so much extra water over there that those folks don’t need.
Continue reading from Inkstain by clicking here.
New NSF center tackles urban water infrastructure
Posted by: Maven on July 26, 2011 at 8:28 amFrom the U.C. Berkeley Newsroom:
“The National Science Foundation has announced a five-year, $18.5 million grant to fund a new Engineering Research Center (ERC) to re-invent the country’s urban water infrastructure, which is seeing increasing challenges from age, population growth and the effects of climate change.
The new center, called the NSF ERC for Re-inventing America’s Urban Water Infrastructure, will be led by Stanford University in partnership with the University of California, Berkeley, Colorado School of Mines and New Mexico State University.
“During the 20th century, we built an elaborate system to provide cities with water. We now face a period where the effects of urban growth, climate change and economic stress are making these systems obsolete,” said center deputy director David Sedlak, UC Berkeley professor of civil and environmental engineering. “The NSF research center will pioneer new ways of providing water that make sense for the 21st century and beyond.” … “
Continue reading from the UC Berkeley News Room by clicking here.
Commentary: It’s time to invest in California’s water infrastructure
Posted by: Maven on July 21, 2011 at 8:38 amFrom Capitol Weekly, this commentary by Timothy Quinn of ACWA:
“Abundant rain and snowfall ended a three-year drought this spring, but California’s water worries are far from over. The foundation of our water system – the network of levees, canals, pipelines, reservoirs, treatment plants and other facilities – is outdated and in need of a major upgrade. Reliable water supplies for people and the environment are at risk if we don’t act soon.
California owes its existence to investments in water infrastructure. Water storage and delivery systems built by previous generations of Californians have fueled the rise of everything from the high-tech enclaves of Silicon Valley to the fertile farmland of the Central Valley to the vibrant cities and industries of Southern California. … “
Continue reading from Capitol Weekly by clicking here.
Re-inventing America’s urban water infrastructure
Posted by: Maven on July 21, 2011 at 8:32 amFrom Water World:
“America’s cities face a looming water crisis, driven by climate change, growing population and a crumbling infrastructure. Recognizing the critical importance of this issue, the National Science Foundation (http://www.nsf.gov/) has selected a partnership of four U.S. universities to form an Engineering Research Center (ERC) to address this challenge by developing new, sustainable ways to manage urban water. The initial grant is $18.5 million spread over five years, with additional millions to come in the subsequent five-year period following in-progress reviews. …
“Urban water represents a monumental challenge for the United States and it deserves concerted research and thinking on the grandest scale,” said project leader Richard Luthy, (http://www-ce.stanford.edu/faculty/luthy/) a professor of civil and environmental engineering (http://soe.stanford.edu/) and senior fellow at the Woods Institute for the Environment (http://woods.stanford.edu/) at Stanford. “We’re clearing the slate. Nothing is being taken for granted. We’ll be developing new strategies for replacing crumbling infrastructure, new technologies for water management and treatment, new ways to recover energy and water, and more – much of it yet to be determined.” … “
Continue reading from Water World by clicking here.
Virtual war a real threat: The U.S. is vulnerable to a cyber attack, with its electrical grids, pipelines, chemical plants and other infrastructure designed without security in mind
Posted by: Maven on March 29, 2011 at 8:37 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“When a large Southern California water system wanted to probe the vulnerabilities of its computer networks, it hired Los Angeles-based hacker Marc Maiffret to test them. His team seized control of the equipment that added chemical treatments to drinking water — in one day.
The weak link: County employees had been logging into the network through their home computers, leaving a gaping security hole. Officials of the urban water system told Maiffret that with a few mouse clicks, he could have rendered the water undrinkable for millions of homes.
“There’s always a way in,” said Maiffret, who declined to identify the water system for its own protection. … “
Continue reading from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
On World Water Day, calls for improving water infrastructure
Posted by: Maven on March 22, 2011 at 9:17 amFrom H. David Nahai at the LA Daily News:
“Today is World Water Day, a day designed to draw attention to the global water crisis and the drastic actions needed to address it. Southern California is certainly not immune to this crisis. The recent statewide shortages, caused by droughts and severe cut backs in water deliveries from the Owens Valley, the Colorado River and the Bay Delta, underscore this urgency.
California’s water system, designed to supply water to 16 million people, struggles to serve nearly 40 million residents. Daily, Los Angeles alone sees an average of four water main breaks, despite an ongoing (but underfunded) reliability program. All told, the state loses 10 percent of its water every year due to aging infrastructure. In a region already familiar with severe water shortages, wasting so much water is untenable. And the problem extends well beyond California. The federal government estimates water lost just from water main breaks is worth about $2.6 billion annually. … “
Continue reading Nahai’s commentary by clicking here.
But it’s not just California that has problems. From the Earth Institute’s State of the Planet blog:
“Today, World Water Day, is a day designed to draw attention to the state of one of the world’s most precious resources. This is a global issue with many regional and local implications. Here in America, drinking water is under threat from many forces, but none so consistently overlooked as aging, deteriorating infrastructure. Our nation’s water systems – everything that gets clean water to homes and buildings and takes dirty water away – are crumbling under the combined pressures of population growth, rapid urbanization and chronic underinvestment, and the price we pay can be measured in wasted water, wasted energy, lost productivity and risks to public health. … “
Continue reading from the State of the Planet blog by clicking here.
MORE: On World Water Day, ITT Draws Attention to Water Infrastructure; Conservation and energy savings depend on efficient and reliable water infrastructure; press release from ITT at Business Wire
House Democrats introduce legislation to provide infrastructure financing
Posted by: Maven on March 12, 2011 at 8:34 amFrom The Hill:
“House Ways and Means Committee Democrats introduced legislation Thursday to provide financing for infrastructure investments around the nation.
The measure extends eight bond, tax credit and loan guarantee programs for states and municipalities, anchored by the Build America Bonds (BAB) program, which helped finance $181 billion in infrastructure projects in the past two years, according to the committee.
“These proven programs are vital in our effort to rebuild America’s infrastructure and economy,” said Ways and Means Ranking Member Sander Levin (D-Mich.). “There are still far too many states and municipalities, in addition to the 14 million unemployed Americans, struggling to regain their footing after the Great Recession, and this legislation gives them the tools to make long-needed investments.” … “
Continue reading from The Hill by clicking here.
Water industry leaders join forces to promote smarter solutions for water networks
Posted by: Maven on March 2, 2011 at 8:30 amFrom PR Web:
“Water industry leaders have announced today that they have joined forces in the establishment of SWAN, the Smart Water Networks Forum, a global industry alliance promoting the use of data technologies in water networks, to make them smarter, more efficient and more sustainable.
Smart Water Networks leverage data and information technology for an improved, streamlined and more efficient operation of water utility distribution networks. With the increased instrumentation and telemetry of water networks, a new layer of smart data applications has become possible. Smart Water Network solutions improve the efficiency, longevity, and reliability of the underlying physical water network by better measuring, collecting, analyzing, and acting upon a wide range of events. … “
Continue reading this press release at PR Web by clicking here.
Passing the Buck: If the consumer is not accountable for the water loss, where will utilities find the funding for costly repairs?
Posted by: Maven on February 24, 2011 at 7:49 amFrom the editor’s blog at the Water Efficiency Journal:
“Last week, I highlighted the NACWA (The National Association of Clean Water Agencies) statement about proposed budget cuts to the Clean Water Act. At issue was the effect of such a proposal: The NACWA believes that these cuts will ultimately help balance one budget by transferring the costs of compliance to the municipalities, who will likely tap their ratepayers to make up the difference. As we know, municipalities are themselves struggling to meet costs, and our ever-expanding infrastructure crisis is not helping.
The numbers from my last blog bear repeating: According to the EPA, the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN), over the next 20 years, a $500-billion gap will exist between the funding available and desperately needed repairs. And we need not prognosticate to see what the next two decades will look like when real-world examples are available in every newspaper across the country. Type in “water” into a Google news search, and you will see story after story about boil water notices and water main breaks. … “
Continue reading from the Water Efficiency Journal by clicking here.
Why invest in American infrastructure? Engineers join President Obama in calling for infrastructure investment to create jobs, restore aging roads and utility lines
Posted by: Maven on January 28, 2011 at 8:32 amFrom Construction Digital:
“Infrastructure has become the hot-button topic in America. One of the central themes of President Barack Obama’s State of the Union speech on Tuesday, infrastructure planning—and who’s going to pay for it all—had led to heated debate in every angle of the political spectrum.
Two factors are central to the debate—the economy and our desire to have the best in the world (doesn’t really matter what we’re the best in—the desire to be the best is as ingrained in most Americans as our love of football and fast food). … “
Continue reading from Construction Digital by clicking here.
Infrastructure: Invest now, or pay more later
Posted by: Maven on January 26, 2011 at 7:45 amFrom PR Newswire, this statement from Kathy J. Caldwell P.E., president of the American Society of Civil Engineers:
“As we approach President Obama’s State of the Union address tonight there is one thing that all Americans must remember: While it may be difficult to talk about such high-price priorities when families are still struggling, the cost that each and every one of us will face if we fail to invest in the nation’s infrastructure will be even more painful.
Infrastructure spending, no matter what form it takes, is an investment in our future prosperity, both economically and socially. … “
Continue reading from PR Newswire by clicking here.
Water or rail? We think there are better uses for infrastructure dollars, says the NC Times
Posted by: Maven on December 15, 2010 at 8:54 amFrom the North County Times, this editorial:
“Two recent news stories serve to illustrate the odd and misplaced priorities that we Californians have.
First (bearing in mind that water is essential to life), on Tuesday, North County Times reporter Brad Fikes surveyed new scientific research that supports the view that people in Southern California must do some hard work and make hard choices to escape looming water shortages.
That work includes, we assert, building much-needed water infrastructure to bring water from wet Northern California into the Central Valley and parts south.
The science suggests that we must do more to conserve and reclaim water, that we should put a higher value on salt-tolerant crops, that desalination operations will be needed to ease our shortages and that market water pricing must be allowed —- all true.
The second story was an item Monday in The Wall Street Journal noting that the California High Speed Rail Authority approved the $4.3 billion construction of about 65 miles of line between Corcoran (a tiny spot on the map north of Fresno) and Borden (on the way to Bakersfield) —- the first pieces of what will be nearly 800 miles of high-speed rail. … “
Continue reading this editorial from the North County Times by clicking here.
Crumbling water infrastructure needs a surge of investment
Posted by: Maven on October 28, 2010 at 8:14 amFrom GreenBiz.com:
“Water pipes and treatment systems in the U.S. are in a sorry state, but nearly two-thirds of voters and just over half of businesses would be willing to pay more for their water to ensure its quality and availability, according to a new study by the ITT Corporation.
ITT surveyed about 1,000 voters and 500 facilities and operations managers at industrial and agricultural businesses in the U.S. this past summer to see what Americans think should be done about the problem with water infrastructure and who they believe should pay for it. The firm released its report on the results of its “Value of Water Survey: Americans on the U.S. Water Crisis” today. … “
Read more from GreenBiz.com by clicking here.
Column: The corrosion of America
Posted by: Maven on October 27, 2010 at 8:03 amFrom the opinion pages of the New York Times, this column by Bob Herbert:
“If you had a leak in your roof or in the kitchen or basement, you’d probably think it a good idea to have it taken care of before matters got worse, and more expensive.
If only we had the same attitude when it comes to the vast and intricately linked water systems in the United States. Most of us take clean and readily available water for granted. But the truth is that the nation’s water systems are in sorry shape — deteriorating even as the population grows and demand increases. … “
Continue reading this commentary at the New York Times by clicking here.
Water Wired blog: Recent developments in water infrastructure investing
Posted by: Maven on October 16, 2010 at 7:12 amFrom the Water Wired blog:
“In a recent interview, American Water President and CEO Donald Correll said, “Our country’s water and wastewater infrastructure is in serious need of repair. Both recently received a ‘D-’ from the American Society of Civil Engineers.” There exist myriad ways to boost infrastructure investment, including government appropriations, private investment, and public-private partnerships. A 2009 American Water Works Association (AWWA) Report entitled, “Financing Water Infrastructure: A Water Infrastructure Bank and Other Innovations,” states that there are three primary funding sources paying for the majority of water infrastructure: bonds, loans, and available cash on hand. … “
Continue reading from the Water Wired blog by clicking here.
Fixing U.S. water systems will create a flood of jobs; New poll finds most voters support a tax on bottled water and soda to fund water projects
Posted by: Maven on July 1, 2010 at 7:49 amFrom the Food & Water Watch Press Room:
“Washington, D.C.—Addressing the $29 billion shortage in funds needed to upgrade and maintain water systems around the U.S. could create up to 750,000 jobs. Such community investment is the goal of Food & Water Watch’s Campaign to Renew America’s Water, which launched today, and aims to ensure a steady flow of cash to community water and sewer systems around the country.
“Many of our nation’s water systems were built over a century ago—at the same time that Henry Ford produced the first Model T,” said Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter. “You wouldn’t expect anyone to rely on a car that old for their daily transportation, nor should you want the pipes that deliver your water to be equally outdated.”
Food & Water Watch’s Campaign to Renew America’s Water seeks to establish a consistent source of federal funding for drinking water and sewer systems so that communities never fall short of the funds needed to maintain and repair them. The campaign will also aim to fix school water infrastructure, build environmentally friendly water and sewer systems, and promote public control of municipal water. … “
Continue reading from Food and Water Watch by clicking here.
Peter Gleick: U.S. water system needs better enforcement, smart investment to ensure quality
Posted by: Maven on June 15, 2010 at 7:38 amFrom the Washington Post, this commentary by Peter Gleick of the Pacific Institute:
“In 1908, Jersey City, N.J., became the first city in the United States to chlorinate its municipal tap water. Other municipalities rapidly followed suit with water filtration and purification systems, and the United States witnessed what were arguably the most dramatic and rapid improvements in public health ever achieved. Over the next couple of decades, cholera and dysentery effectively disappeared. Health experts estimate that half of the entire decline in urban death rates and three-quarters of the drop in infant mortality from 1900 to 1940 resulted from the improvement in water quality.
The dramatic drop in illness contributed to the increase in labor productivity, industrial output and school attendance that occurred at the beginning of the 20th century and helped the United States become the dominant industrial power of the time. The country’s remarkable drinking water system sets it apart from the rest of the world. Even today, there are relatively few countries where inexpensive, high-quality, safe drinking water is widely available from the faucet 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and where the population trusts it enough to drink it. … “
Continue reading Peter Gleick’s commentary by clicking here.
Efforts underway at Virginia Tech to address deterioration of nation’s water pipes
Posted by: Maven on May 28, 2010 at 8:06 amFrom EurekAlert:
“More than two million miles of the nation’s infrastructure of water and wastewater pipes is nearing the end of its useful life, but the mostly underground facilities often do not attract much attention because of this “invisibility,” said Sunil Sinha, Virginia Tech associate professor of civil and environmental engineering (CEE). http://www.cee.vt.edu/index.php?do=view&content=0&apps=2&level=2&id=17&pid=b024555fa7f439a27509de488a7b5749
To help remedy this growing national concern, Sinha will be directing two new research projects to develop a National Pipeline Infrastructure Database. Information will be gathered on technologies to assess the condition as well as the location of the buried pipes, and on methods of how to repair, rehabilitate or replace them entirely. Sinha is conducting this research through the Virginia Tech Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science (ICTAS) Center of Excellence (ICE) in Sustainable Water Infrastructure Management (SWIM). http://yubanet.com/scitech/Engineers-Have-Created-ICE-in-Order-to-SWIM.php
Sinha explained there are a vast number of different types of water and waste water pipes, and different technologies will be required to correct any problems.
“The proposed databases will be like a Wikipedia for the water and waste water utilities except users will not have editing privileges,” Sinha said. Instead, this database will be maintained and updated by SWIM. It will provide the case studies, lists of vendors, consultants and contractors on a regional basis that deal in a particular technology, and comments from end users about individual experiences with a particular technology. … “
Continue reading from EurekAlert by clicking here.
Commentary: Water infrastructure: The unseen crisis
Posted by: Maven on May 4, 2010 at 6:13 amFrom Steven R. Loranger at the Huffington Post:
“When most of us think of infrastructure, we probably think of bridges, roads, trains and fiber optic cable–the visible circulatory system of a society that moves goods, services and knowledge from one point to another. But we now face new challenges brought on by unprecedented population growth that require us to rethink how we define and address the issue of global infrastructure.
This was a hot topic at this year’s Milken Institute Global Conference, which I attended last week. Something I addressed there is my belief that we must redefine infrastructure to include systems that ensure a supply of clean, usable water and virtual networks such as national air traffic management systems. ….
The importance of investment in air traffic management modernization remains a priority, but one month since World Water Day, let’s focus on the unseen crisis of global water infrastructure. … “
Read more of this commentary at the Huffington Post by clicking here.
Water: Another infrastructure challenge
Posted by: Maven on April 15, 2010 at 6:54 amFrom Triple Pundit:
“Among the usual items that make up U.S. infrastructure challenges, including land development, roads, bridges and a host of other transportation needs, it’s time to add water systems to the list, according to a report released Tuesday by the Urban Land Institute and Ernst & Young.
In fact, our “water profligacy” is well, just way too profligate, the 102-page report, Infrastructure in 2010: An Investment Imperative, says.
An increasing number of urban areas throughout the U.S. are facing growing pressures on their existing water infrastructure systems, meaning that more investment is needed for repairs and upgrades. Perhaps even more important, a change in development patterns and attitudes that are “more conducive to conservation” is also needed.
The report cites “water profligacy as an American way of life,” adding: “Most water districts do not charge ratepayers full outlays for constructing and maintaining systems … As a result, businesses and households tend to use water inefficiently and don’t conserve even though per capita water demand could outstrip future availability in some parts of the country. We are starting to see the limits of where people can go (to live).” … “
Continue reading this article from Triple Pundit by clicking here.
Add water systems to U.S. infrastructure challenges, says ‘Infrastructure 2010: An Investment Imperative’
Posted by: Maven on April 13, 2010 at 9:49 pmFrom PR Newswire, this press release from the Urban Land Institute:
“BOSTON, April 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — More and more urban areas throughout the United States – in both dry and rainy locales — are facing growing pressures on their water infrastructure systems, necessitating both greater investments for overhaul and a change in development patterns that are more conducive to conservation, according to Infrastructure 2010: An Investment Imperative, a new publication released today by the Urban Land Institute and Ernst & Young.
Citing “water profligacy as an American way of life,” the report cautions: “Most water districts do not charge ratepayers full outlays for constructing and maintaining systems…As a result, businesses and households tend to use water inefficiently and don’t conserve, even though per-capita water demand could outstrip future availability in some parts of the country…We are starting to see the limits of where people can go (to live).” The supply/demand conundrum, it notes, stretches from arid California, Colorado and Arizona to humid Georgia and Florida. The report shows that the U.S. has the highest “water footprint” in the world, using nearly 656,000 gallons per capita annually, greatly outstripping far more populous China, which uses less than 186,000 gallons per capita annually.
The integration of more concentrated land development into water management can reduce runoff and combat waste, states the report. One example: the runoff from eight homes on eight acres totals 149,600 cubic feet per year, while the runoff from eight homes on one acre totals 39,600 cubic feet per year, with the denser development saving both water and land. “Changing growth patterns in response to dwindling resources will not come easy to a nation that is not accustomed to conserving water or land,” said ULI Executive Vice President Maureen McAvey. “But it’s clear that regional and local problems with both water quantity and quality will continue without a broad-based cutback in public water consumption and a change in how and where we build. Water infrastructure must be viewed through the lens of sustainable growth.” … “
Continue reading this press release at PR Newswire by clicking here.
Facing suit, pipe maker extends guarantee
Posted by: Maven on April 6, 2010 at 7:07 amFrom the New York Times:
“JM Eagle, fighting to retain sales amid allegations that it knowingly sold defective pipe to municipal water systems, said on Monday that it would guarantee its products for 50 years.
The pledge will cover pipe that is already in the ground, as well as the pipe that JM Eagle will sell in the future, to make it “absolutely clear, in a concrete way, that our product is of the highest quality,” said Neal Gordon, vice president for marketing.
Previously, the company had guaranteed its products for just one year, and it said the new warranty went far beyond any guarantee offered by its competitors.
A lot of pipe and potentially a lot of money are at stake for JM Eagle and its customers. The company bills itself as the world’s largest maker of plastic pipe, having sold enough in the last 10 years to circle the globe 83 times. Less than one-tenth of 1 percent of its pipe installed since 2000 has been the subject of a claim, the company says.
JM Eagle, which is now based in Los Angeles, says the assertions of poor quality, contained in a whistle-blower lawsuit filed by a former employee, are false and without merit. … “
Continue reading this article from the New York Times by clicking here.
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