Cape Town, South Africa is facing a very dire situation due to a three-year-long mega-drought. By May, the city was expecting to have to turn off its water supply and hand out a meager 25 liters per day to its citizens, who will have to make their way through long and potentially dangerous crowds to one of 200 distribution points throughout the city. The shut-off day - known as "Day Zero" … [Read more...]
Canadian Study on Stormwater Infrastructure – Infrastructure Management
Recently the Sustainable Prosperity, an environmental think tank based at the University of Ottowa, conducted a study, aptly labeled "New Solutions for Sustainable Stormwater Management in Canada." The study reviews the current state of stormwater management in Canada and the two most regularly employed tools: green infrastructure and Stormwater user fees. It goes into great depth exploring … [Read more...]
Infrastructure Asset Management Impacts of the Electronic Vehicle Disruption in
Tony Seba has published an updated lecture: The Electric Vehicle Disruption - End of Oil 2030 Having attended a lecture by Tony Seba two years ago, I have found his analysis coherent, well-researched, and well worth taking note of. If you are involved in transportation infrastructure management, or you own an internal combustion engine vehicle, then this presentation is well worth your … [Read more...]
1.1 Billion People More in 2030 – Are We Planning Globally to Meet the World’s Population Growth and Challenges?
"Society must think globally, plan regionally, then act locally. - Nature.com" By 2030, scientists predict that another 1.1 billion people will be inhabiting planet earth, bringing the world's total population count to a number just shy of 9 billion. Most of them will be born in densely populated urban areas in Asia and Africa - areas that cannot sustain such immense population growth. A … [Read more...]
21st Century Approach to Water Utility Resilience
Flooding made New Orleans Louisiana plan for resilient infrastructure as enduring as this old Steamboat Natchez. For those investing in water infrastructure and water solutions, there is a concept that must be grasped: water will always win against human control. It is possible to think outside the box and not trying to stop or change the naturally occurring patterns in waterways or … [Read more...]
Will I Buy a Tesla Model 3 and Why Does It Matter to Infrastructure Asset Management?
A few days ago the American electric car maker Tesla announced details of its Model 3 car, priced from USD $35,000. The Model 3 will also be available in some more countries, including New Zealand where I live. Seating 5 adults, and with a range of 215 miles (346 km) per charge the Model 3 is potentially a breakthrough vehicle for electric vehicles (EV's) The projected release of the Tesla … [Read more...]
MN Petitions “WOTUS” – Infrastructure Management Plan Implications
Saint Paul Minnesota At the end of May 2015, the much-anticipated final rule on "Definition of Waters in the U.S." ("WOTUS") as an amendment to the Clean Water Act, was published by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. While everyone greatly appreciates the effort made with this document, many U.S. county governments are disappointed by the result. Minnesota was one of many … [Read more...]
Is it Time to Stop Growing Cotton in the Arizona Desert?
Cotton field near Apache Arizona In the middle of the dry, Sonoran Desert of Arizona, the Wuertz family (and several others) have been farming cotton for generations. This was once considered an exciting accomplishment, but now it weighs on their consciences, as this now unneeded crop siphons so much of Arizona's limited water supply. The farmers understand that they could plant … [Read more...]
Infrastructure Asset Management – Hawaii Engineers’ Path to Resiliency
With climate change and associated sea-level rise, the Port of Honolulu is one of Hawaii's critical infrastructure that's prone to flooding. A dedicated group of local engineers from Honolulu, Hawaii have recently been exploring how possible climate change, particularly sea-level rise, could adversely affect their wastewater infrastructure. Timothy Steinberger, the former director of … [Read more...]
Dr Natalie Jackson, Population, Demography and Change
In April 2015, Dr. Natalie Jackson, New Zealand's preeminent research demographer, gave a presentation hosted at the Waugh Infrastructure Management offices in Timaru to an audience of New Zealand local government transportation and water utility engineers and Waugh Infrastructure Management staff. The presentation provided an update from the previous February 2013 presentations on … [Read more...]
WWEMA – What the Utility Infrastructure Management Experts Discussed
The WWEMA Forum at Washington D.C. provided needed input for people in the water and wastewater management sector of the USA. From April 13 to15, in Washington D.C., the WWEMA (Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association Inc.) Forum brought together hundreds of water industry leaders and experts to discuss the future of water and wastewater needs across the USA and how to gain … [Read more...]
Water Utilities Infrastructure Management Analysis and Reflections
A hydro water pipeline among autumn trees at Trenton Falls, Trenton, NY In a recent examination of the state of water infrastructure in Western countries, such as much of Europe and the USA etc., Gregory R. Copley makes some very valid points. He starts by noting the rapid urbanization that is increasing in many towns and cities, which is causing water infrastructure to degrade at a much … [Read more...]
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