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 …
21st Century Approach to Water Utility Resilience
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 geographically wet …
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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 …
MN Petitions “WOTUS” – Infrastructure Management Plan Implications
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 …
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Is it Time to Stop Growing Cotton in the Arizona Desert?
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 …
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Infrastructure Asset Management – Hawaii Engineers’ Path to Resiliency
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 Honolulu's Department of Environmental Services, …
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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 …
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WWEMA – What the Utility Infrastructure Management Experts Discussed
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 funding for these needs. The …
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Water Utilities Infrastructure Management Analysis and Reflections
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 …
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Architects Design Water Resiliency Infrastructure for Boston and New York
Following the example of cities such as Hoboken and New Orleans, the cities of Boston, Massachusetts and New York City have both announced exciting new resiliency projects. The project in Boston is called "Living With Water" and is a competition for architects to redesign Boston for the year …
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How Can New Orleans Avoid Making a Serious Water Problem Worse
New Orleans is a city that deals with water issues on a sometimes daily basis. As flood-level water pours in, they have a system of levees and pump stations that can have the city clear of the water in 30 minutes. This all seems good at surface level, but below the surface, problems abound. The …
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China – Urbanization and Infrastructure Management Growing Pains
China has been undergoing a remarkable level of growth and urbanization over the past few decades, with just over half of China's population now urban. Urbanization in China is predicted to continue to about 70% of the population, so there is a lot of urban growth still to come. The …
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