SECTION CHAIR’S MESSAGE
Shyam S. Mohanka, Ph. D., P.E., BCEE, Civil & Environmental Engineer
Discussion of one of the top five critical issues facing the water industry
Business Factors (Financing repairs/replacements/upgrades) - In the category of business factors, water professionals are primarily concerned about the expense and financing of infrastructure replacement and the imbalance between the cost of delivering quality water service and the rates that can be charged. It is absolutely essential to have adequate funding and realistic water rates for financing repairs, replacing aging and failing infrastructure, and handling necessary upgrades including operation and maintenance of the water system facilities. Other business issues include financing to meet new regulations, security financing, utility privatization and consolidation, and the general overall increased degree of difficulty in sustaining new construction and operations of small water systems.
Clearly adequate financing whether for infrastructure or regulatory compliance or other critical issues is a significant challenge for the water industry. Most people in the water industry have come to recognize that a significant increase in federal funding isn’t likely to happen soon, and utilities need to raise rates to match their cost of service. It will be the best policy to plan for full cost recovery and the importance of getting into a dialog with customers about the true value of water. We don’t perceive a crisis now, but being prudent planners we know that if we don’t put into place a funding plan for total cost recovery and start maintaining a general public awareness about the importance of water infrastructure, we could have a crisis.
2008-09 Chair’s Initiatives
Establish NYSAWWA Education Fund – The Education Fund will become a permanent source of funding for education, training and scholarship programs. Charitable donations from individuals & organizations (Members & Non-Members, Water Companies, Consultants, Manufacturers, etc.) will form a financial basis. The Education Fund will allow NYSAWWA to reach out to operators of water systems by underwriting their training costs. Several fellowship categories (NYSAWWA Education Fellow, NYSAWWA Sustaining Education Member and NYSAWWA Education Charter Member) will be established to recognize contributors. The operation and management of this fund will be handled by the newly established Education Fund Committee.
Recognition of Section Leaders & Volunteers – Section Chair’s citation certificates will be issued to Board Members, Committee Chairs and Volunteers for handling special projects successfully during the term 2008-09. These certificates will be issued at the annual water event in April 2009.
Establish Outstanding Water Utility Awards – Awards will be established for best management, operation and maintenance of large, medium and small water systems in New York State. Selection of water systems will be based on compliance with Part 5, SSC, SDWA, Plant Maintenance & Personnel Safety, Security and Emergency Preparedness of a water system.
Establish Outstanding Engineering Design Awards – Awards will be established to identify and reward the best water treatment plant design in New York State. Final selection will be based on verification of finished water quality, ease of operation & maintenance, built-in safety and security features, emergency preparedness of the WTP during emergencies and cost.
Establish Centennial Celebration Calendar – The planning calendar will include initiatives to be implemented during pre-centennial years (2008-13) and celebration plans during the centennial year (2014). The Centennial Celebration calendar will serve as the road map leading up to the centennial celebrations in 2014.
WATER FACTS, NEWS, IQ & TIPS
Water Security Division, June 2008 – A Water Quality Event Detection System challenge has been posted (www.epa.gov/watersecurity) on June 27, 2008. Potential participants include researchers, software developers, product vendors, or anyone else with software capable of detecting anomalous conditions in drinking water. The schedule calls for initial public presentation of results in summer 2009
Water Saving Tips – Check for leaks in taps, pipes and hoses. It’s an easy way to save water. One slow drip can waste 20 gallons of water daily (7,000 gallons per year)
AWWA & NYSAWWA MILESTONES (1920-29)
1920 – The AWWA Standardization Council formed. Journal AWWA begins publishing bi-monthly. Beekman C. Little was elected AWWA President from New York Section.
1921 – US Public Health Service adopts drinking water standards for coliform, and inorganic chemicals. Abel Wolman becomes editor of Journal AWWA.
1922 – American Cast Iron Pipe Company installs first cement-lined pipe.
1923 – John R. Baylis develops a fixed piping grid system for surface wash in filtration. George W. Fuller was elected AWWA President from New York Section.
1924 – Wolman expands Journal AWWA to 12 issues a year. On February 9, The Shandaken Aqueduct opens to supply New York City. December 1, AWWA membership expands to 2,134. AWWA Annual Conference was held in New York City, New York
1925 – Harry F. Huy was elected AWWA President from New York Section
1926 – The first Leopold Duplex Concrete Filter Bottom is installed in Wilkinsburg, Pa., a suburb of Pittsburgh. AWWA Annual Conference was held in Buffalo, New York
1927 – Membrane filter become commercially available.
1928 – Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California formed. AWWA works to help found Federation of Sewage Works Association. William W. Bush was elected AWWA President from New York Section.
1929 – American Cast Iron Pipe Company develops mechanical joint for gray iron pipe.
EVENTS CALENDAR
NYSAWWA Training (click link for courses)
October 1 – AWWA WEBCAST on Carbon Sequestration RuleOctober 15 – AWWA WEBCAST on Total Coliform Rule: Proposed Revisions
Oct 20-23 – Backflow Prevention Device Tester Training & Certification, OCWA Building, Syracuse
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Roy Hanville (Wagner Hardwoods LLC)
Stacey Keon (Pulsafeeder Inc. A Unit of IDEX Corp.)
Bruce Kiselica (USEPA, Region 2)
Matt McTarnaghan (Village of Genesco)
Carl Mende (DynaTech Control Solutions Inc.)
Brian Petrie (Lock City Supply Inc.)
Brian W. Pittitt (Total Piping Solutions Inc.)
Daryl M. Piontek (Total Piping Solutions Inc.)
Bruce Singleton, P.E.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
TO ACHIEVE ALL THAT IS POSSIBLE, WE MUST ATTEMPT THE IMPOSSIBLE, TO BE AS MUCH AS WE CAN BE, WE MUST DREAM OF BEING MORE. Gale Baker Stanton
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