Shyam S. Mohanka, Ph. D., P.E., BCEE
Civil & Environmental Engineer
Discussion of one of the top five critical issues facing the water industry
Infrastructure – Drinking water treatment plants, sewer lines, drinking water distribution and storage facilities ensure protection of public health and the environment. As a nation, we have built this extensive network of infrastructure to provide the public with access to water and sanitation. Much of the drinking water and wastewater infrastructure in the US was built 30 years following World War II, mirroring the increase in population.
Huge infrastructure assets installed after World War II are due for replacement, but funding may be elusive. Another difficulty is the imbalance between the cost of delivering water service and the rates that can be charged before outraging customers, taxpayers, and politicians. It is important to consider replacement of old systems. Other issues in this infrastructure category include cross-connection concerns, water leakage and accounting, and water storage. The declining infrastructure has collateral effects on other issues as well. Time and money are spent on treatment requirements to send through old, decaying infrastructure, negating the level of treatment.
EPA is committed to promoting sustainable practices that will help to reduce the potential gap between funding needs and spending at the local and national level. The Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative guides our efforts in changing how the nation views, values, manages, and invest in its water infrastructure. The EPA is working with the water industry to identify best practices that have helped many of the nation’s utilities address a variety of management challenges and extend the use of these practices to a greater number of utilities. We believe that collaboration with a coalition of leaders, with EPA playing a prominent role can build a roadmap for the future promotion of sustainable infrastructure through a Four Pillars approach:
. Better Management of Water and Wastewater Utilities,
. Rates that Reflect the Full Cost Pricing of Services,
. Efficient Water Use, and
. Watershed Approaches to Protection.
Congress is again considering economic stimulus legislation, possibly in a “lame duck” session after the November elections. Legislation recently approved by the House of Representatives (H.R. 7110) included $ 6.5 billion for Clean Water infrastructure projects. Those funds would immediately provide work in the fields of construction, engineering, environmental planning and add lasting value to America’s vital infrastructure.
WATER FACTS, NEWS, IQ & TIPS
Water Facts: 1.1 billion people lack access to an improved water supply – approximately one in six people on earth (Ref: 2006 United Nations Human Development Report)
Water-Related Disease Facts: every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water-related disease (Ref: Number estimated from statistics in the 2006 United Nations Human Development Report)
News: On Friday October 3, 2008 EPA released the prepublication version of its preliminary determination not to regulate perchlorate. The prepublication of the preliminary regulatory determination includes a fact sheet and is available here.
AWWA & NYSAWWA MILESTONES (1940-49)
1940 – 2,275 rapid sand filter plants active in USA, 120 in Canada. 67% of the US population’s drinking water is either filtered or disinfected. AWWA creates standard
C-502, the first on fire hydrants and Eric Johnson takes over editorial responsibility for the Journal.
1941 – Toledo, Ohio, completes construction of an entirely new Lake Erie water supply system designed by Greeley and Hansen.
1942 – US Public Health Service adopts drinking water standards. Henry Marks invents the Amperometric Titrator for measuring chlorine
1944 – AWWA Journal circulation climbs to 5,400 more than doubling within a decade.
1945 – Fluoride added to drinking water to help prevent tooth decay in Grand Rapids, MI. On March 31, 5,606 members of AWWA reported. J.M. Montgomery Consulting Engineers is founded.
1945 – A new pattern of NYSAWWA meeting places (Upstate locations as well as in New York City) was established in the fall of 1945.
1946 – Typhoid death rate has dropped to 0.15 per 100,000 in USA. CH2M Hill Consulting Engineers is founded.
1947 – Camp Dresser & McKee is founded.
1948 – AWWA Management and Water Resources divisions established. AWWA issues controversial statement endorsing fluoridation. Federal Water Pollution Control Act passed by US Congress. Linn H. Enslow was elected AWWA President from New York Section.
EVENTS CALENDAR
November 5 – AWWA Web Cast on Environmental Values in Water Industry
November 12 – AWWA will host a special “Brown Bag” Web Cast titled “The New Administration: A Forecast”
November 13/14 – AWWA Seminar on “Mapping Your Course to a Successful Workforce Plan”, at the Hilton Ft Worth in Texas
November 16 -20 – Water Quality Technology Conference & Exposition, Cincinnati, Ohio
November 19-20 – Edwin C. Tifft, Jr. Water Supply Symposium, East Syracuse, New York
WELCOME NEW MEMBERS
Jack Bozeat (Village of Nyack Water Department)
Chris Caralyus (American Design Consultants)
David N. Gardinier (City of Rome)
Joseph Gazzal and Bert Moon (Mohawk Valley Water Authority)
Anthony Palamara and Patrick M. Sherlock (Onondaga County Water Authority)
William Perkins (Village of Skaneateles)
Verl Preston (Test America Laboratories)
Eugene B. stock (West Canada Vellaey Central School)
Joseph Zarecki (Zarecki & Associates, LLC)
Joseph H. Tompkins
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
THE WORK GOES ON, THE CAUSE ENDURES, THE HOPE STILL LIVES AND THE DREAMS SHALL NEVER DIE. Edward Kennedy
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