Monthly Newsletter for Section Leaders: Volume 1, Number 10 (February 2009)

SECTION CHAIR’S MESSAGE

Shyam S. Mohanka, Ph. D., P.E., BCEE

Civil & Environmental Engineer

Discussion of second tier critical issues facing the water industry

MACRO FACTORS

Macro factors can be described as major influences on the water industry that are outside the industry’s control. Among 2007 respondents, the two macro factors frequently mentioned were global warming/climate change and population growth. Regardless of your scientific interpretation or political stripe, it is clear that many parts of the world have experienced changing weather patterns and temperatures. Knowing how increasing temperatures will affect seasonal patterns of precipitation and what effects these changes will have on the water cycle is vitally important to water utilities. Water utilities must plan for uncertainties of climate change and its effects on water supplies and operations. Population increases and municipal and recreational uses, as well as growing uncertainties about the effects of climate change, call for a new approach to water use and water resource management. Although science hasn’t agreed on a model to predict the effects of rising temperatures, water utilities must make an attempt to do so and develop mitigation and adaptation strategies flexible enough to accommodate uncertainty.

Attendees made water supply a top priority at the January 2008 World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland and the effects of population growth and climate change on water management dominated the program. In February 2008, eight major US water agencies united to form the Water Utility Climate Alliance, acknowledging that plans for future investment in water infrastructure must accommodate climate change projections (SFPUC, 2008). Clearly, the specter of climate change is recognized by the water community as a significant challenge to sustainable and reliable water supplies.

DRINKING WATER QUALITY

Survey responses reflected rising concerns about distribution water quality or quality at the point of use, with some respondents worried that infrastructure issues such as aging and corrosion adversely affected water quality for the end user. An engineer in the Northeast wrote, “I live near the most advanced treatment plant in Massachusetts, but my water goes through 80-year old pipes. Bottled water is sold here by the caseloads due to taste.”

The drinking water industry has increasingly focused its attention on water quality in the distribution system as the dynamic nature of these systems becomes better understood. Meeting existing and new regulations, a traditional driver for water quality in the distribution system, remains a challenge as revised laws such as the Total Coliform Rule and the forthcoming Stage 2 Disinfection By-Product Rule take effect. AWWARF’s research has established that distribution systems should be viewed not as a static network or inert pipes, but as biological and chemical reactors with complex interactions and outcomes.

Through compliance with existing regulations or their own progressive water-quality programs, many utility managers now have data that illuminates how the dynamics of source water quality, treatment processes, disinfectant residual, pipe materials and condition, and other factors affect the quality of finished water en route to customers’ taps. Because these inter-dependent elements vary widely from utility to utility, no standard guidance is possible. Utility managers should take into account their own system’s variables and AWWARF’s research can help them to understand the dynamics of their particular systems, prior to making changes to it.

CONSUMERS

Water professionals are concerned about the image of tap water versus bottled water, the lack of public communication about the true value and cost of tap water service, and the need for more education to improve conservation compliance. Water has a special problem because many people believe it should be free. So how can we overcome that dilemma and get everyone to value water? Unlike the bottled water industry, we in the municipal drinking water industry have not effectively marketed the value of our product and our service. In order for people to be willing to pay for a product or service, they must perceive it to have value. We need to sharpen our focus and reach out to our customers, our community leaders, and our elected officials and educate them just what it takes to get a safe and sufficient supply of water. Whether they operate in a municipally owned or investor-owned environment, water utility managers are recognizing that customers are their most strategic asset. Consumer satisfaction is important to water utilities to minimize customer complaints and associated costs, maintain customer goodwill, and increase customer support for utility improvement initiatives. Water utilities must provide superior customer service using information technology (IT) available today to deliver that service. Consumer education has been inadequately addressed, according to a utility manager in the West who stressed the importance of “keeping customers aware of water issues like they’ve become aware of electricity and natural gas issues.” An executive in the Midwest said, “People need to know that like cable TV and electricity, the cost to produce water rises.”

WATER FACTS, NEWS, IQ & TIPS

Water Facts: Millions of women and children spend several hours a day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources. Water systems fail at a rate of 50% or higher. Every $ 1.00 spent on water and sanitation creates on average another $ 8 in costs averted and productivity gained.
Water-Related Disease Facts: Human health improvements are influenced not only by the use of clean water, but also by personal hygiene habits and the use of sanitation facilities. Close to half of all people in developing countries are suffering at any given time from a health problem caused by water and sanitation deficits.

AWWA Legislative Alert (January 15, 2009): The U.S. House Committee on Appropriations today unveiled its proposal for infrastructure spending in the upcoming economic stimulus bill. It would provide $ 2 billion for drinking water infrastructure, $ 6 billion for wastewater infrastructure, and $ 1.5 billion for rural water projects of both types. Visit www.awwa.org/jobcreation for more information.

AWWA News Release (January 20, 2009): The American Water Works Association (AWWA), in partnership with the Water ISAC (Water Information Sharing and Analysis Centers), today announced that it will provide U.S. member utilities serving fewer than 50,000 people with an opportunity to test-drive the Water ISAC Pro Internet-based security information system.

The NYSAWWA Career Center: Both AWWA members and non-members can post jobs on the new Section Website to reach qualified candidates. The NYSAWW Career Center offers its organizational, individual and non-members an easy-to-use and highly targeted resource for online employment connections. For details contact Jane Mercurio at 315-455-2614.

AWWA & NYSAWWA MILESTONES (1970-79)

1970 – US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is created. W. Leslie Harris achieves a filtration rate of 10 gpm/sq. ft. at Contra Costa, California.
1970 – Shyam Mohanka was the first recipient of AWWA Academic Achievement Award from New York Section on his Ph.D. thesis on “Multilayer Filtration of Suspensions”.
1971 – Allen Hazen was the first recipient of AWWA “Water Industry Hall of Fame” Award from New York section.
1972 – Overriding President Nixon’s veto Congress enacts the Clean Water Act. Denver is selected as the new home of AWWA. Canada and USA sign the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
1973 – George E. Symons was elected AWWA President from New York Section
1973 – Gunther F. Craun and Leland J. McCabe call for standards of Chemicals in drinking water. Donald J. Ptak et al report the distressing occurrence of klebsiella in a chlorinated water supply.
1974 – December, AWWA membership climbs to 23,500. Congress passes Public Law 93-523, and President Ford signs the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) into law. AWWA’s new logo incorporated into Journal’s cover design. Research work by Rook, Bellar, Lichtenberg and Kroner confirms the presence of chloroforms and other chlorinated compounds in drinking water as a result of chlorination.
1975 - AWWA publishes the first issue of Opflow.
1976 – W.R. Hutchinson’s work paves the way for reconsideration of direct filtration of high quality waters in the United States.
1977 – USEPA promulgates National Interim Primary Drinking Water Regulations (NIPDWRs). It covers inorganic, organic, and microbiological contaminants and turbildity. First amendment to NIPDWRs dealimg with radionuclides goes into effect.
1979 – The AWWA Water Utility Council established. USEPA promulgates an interim primary drinking water standard for total trihalomethanes of 0.1 mg/l

EVENTS CALENDAR

March 1-4, 2009 – AWWA Joint Conference on Customer Service/Information Management Technology, Charlotte, North Carolina
March 4-5, 2009 – AWWA Seminar on Climate Changes and Water Utilities, Arlington, VA
March 11, 2009 – AWWA Web Cast on High Technology Tools for Operators
March 15-18, 2009 – AWWA Membrane Technology Conference, Memphis, Tennessee
March 25, 2009 – AWWA Web Cast on Perchlorate and Emerging Contaminants: Where Are We Now?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW YOU WILL BE MORE DISAPPOINTED BY THE THINGS THAT YOU DIDN’T DO THAN BY THE ONES YOU DID DO. SO THROW OFF THE BOWLINES, SAIL AWAY FROM THE SAFE HARBOR, CATCH THE TRADE WINDS IN YOUR SAILS, EXPLORE, DREAM AND DISCOVER. Mark Twain