The use of brackish water is not a new phenomenon for Texas. It was first identified as a supply strategy in the 2007 State Water Plan, and by that point, 80 desalination plants were already operating around the state. However, there has been a consistent debate about the pros and cons of its …
Flint, MI Deals with Safe Drinking Water Issues — Infrastructure Asset Management Planning
The mayor of Flint has sent a letter to President Obama's Director of Intergovernmental Affairs requesting the participation of the White House and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a City of Flint Technical Advisory Water Committee. Flint is forming both a water committee and a technical …
Video: Planning Assumptions and Confidence Levels – Summary Series
In the course of making your infrastructure asset management plan, knowing the planning assumptions and confidence levels enhances your planning projections, which this summary video explains. In this video, Ross presents the issues that will arise when you start about thinking your planning …
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Desalination in Santa Barbara — How Infrastructure Management Planning Helps
Santa Barbara, California is fast running out of ideas to provide water during this drought, but it still has one more card in its hand. The city has an inactive desalination plant that was completed in 1991 but was left tested but unused due to a "miracle rain" that occurred shortly …
Upgrading the Aging Water System of Cameron City, TX and Its Implications
The Cameron City Council is taking measures to improve its water system, moving towards a groundwater-based municipal water system. The Council has applied to the Texas Water Development Board for grants in order to fund this much-needed system upgrade. The Cameron Herald reports: "On …
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Infrastructure Asset Management Video: Business Processes and Practices
How knowledgeable are you about the business processes and practices in infrastructure asset management? Watch the "Business Processes and Practices – Summary Series" video and enhance your knowledge through Ross' whiteboard session. In this video, Ross presents an overview of the topic …
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How To Define Levels of Service with the Community
One question posed was about an example of a system to define levels of service with communities. It seems like a great collaboration in theory but not necessarily easy to do in practice, the participant commented. Heather replied: I would say that’s probably true, that it is a little bit …
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The Critical Issue of Water Infrastructure Resiliency
California has been in a state of drought for the last four years, but many observers have been noting that California has not been handling the situation as well as it could. Some consider California's water laws to be irrational and hard to maneuver for a start, and others consider …
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Water Utilities Infrastructure Management Planning for USA “Megadrought”
NASA is now predicting a "megadrought" as early as 2050 that might last 30 or more years and devastate the Southwest and Central Plains, worse than anything in the last 1000 years. This is mere speculation at this point but could be a very imposing reality if things follow their current …
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Portland’s New Water Pipes Are Delivering Water and Hydroelectricity
Portland, Oregon has unveiled a new project for 2015: turning water into electricity. This is not uncommon and hydroelectricity is not a new concept, but Portland has done something very unique. They have created a new system that generates electricity inside a stretch of the city …
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Asset Management Manual for Smaller to Mid-sized Water Utilities
A participant expressed: I’ve seen many guides to asset management. Many of which are very similar to others. Is there one guide, internationally or nationally, that is usually seen as the model for asset management? And if not, what are two or three of the most commonly used guides, domestically …
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Important Tips to Consider in Buying Infrastructure Asset Management Software
Heather mentioned that it is important the infrastructure manager must determine what you are going to use the software for. She added that one should seek the software and evaluate whether you’ll be able to tell if what you’re looking at matches what it is you want to do. Then in this way …
