The US Department of Agriculture has recognized several pressing needs in rural US communities and has plans to invest $267 million to improve water and wastewater systems in 103 projects. Many of these communities have very limited water infrastructure and risk of contamination. Water Technology reports: "USDA’s investments towards water infrastructure include $116,000 loan to the … [Read more...]
The ASCE 2017 Wastewater Infrastructure Report and Asset Management Planning
Wastewater and Stormwater infrastructure in the 2017 ASCE report Card received a D+. This is up from the 2013 report card grade of D. This is in part due to the fact there has been some innovation with the treatment plants to ensure protection against flooding and cross contamination and new more efficient and modern techniques being used to preserve water and reuse waste. However, to keep … [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...]
Infrastructure Asset Management Challenge – Sanitation Failures and Hookworm Infections in Rural Alabama
In Lowndes County, Alabama, many septic systems are old, leaking, or have failed completely. Problems thought to have been solved at the turn of the 20th century have again surfaced, mostly in the form of hookworm infecting many children living in these rural communities. Often this is merely because they are playing in their backyards among raw sewage. Lowndes County has been on a … [Read more...]
Infrastructure Asset Management Planning Thoughts on EPA-Funded Water Infrastructure Projects of Connecticut
On 1 December 2015, EPA announced it had awarded Connecticut $26 million to help finance water improvement projects. These funds are intended for the upgrading of sewage plants and drinking water systems, as well as dealing with aging infrastructure through the state. The EPA reports: "This funding will pay for projects that improve water quality and protect drinking water across … [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...]
Del Puerto, California May Buy Urban Wastewater As Drought Solution
Farmers in California are struggling to keep their crops irrigated and have turned to a new solution: buying urban wastewater. The Del Puerto Water District in the Central Valley is headed by Anne Hansen, who has definitely jumped on the urban wastewater solution bandwagon. Buying water on the open market has become too costly and Hansen believes a more reliable supply is needed to support the … [Read more...]
Public Utilities Privatization – Study Weighs Pros and Cons
In a paper featured in the American Journal of Political Science, both public and privatized utilities are compared and the results suggest that neither models are the perfect solution. Private utilities often set their rates based on the cost of their investments, which means they can charge very high prices without much concern for how that affects low-income consumers. On the flip-side, … [Read more...]
Utility Infrastructure Management – Why Colorado Springs Utilities Doesn’t Always Appreciate Rain
What seems a good thing - water levels at the highest capacity they've been in years - is actually not so great for Colorado Springs Utilities. The one drawback of so much rain is that customers use less water, which means the utility loses revenue. Fifty percent of the money made by the water utility in Colorado Springs comes from irrigation, and now the utility is down $17 million due to … [Read more...]
Infrastructure Management – Detroit to Flint Water March and its Ramifications
The ongoing water crisis in Flint, Michigan is not new to the team at Inframanage.com - read our earlier posts on the Flint Michigan Water Crisis. It has now reached the point where Flint residents in July 2015 staged a scheduled, one-week demonstration under the title: "CLEAN AFFORDABLE WATER FOR ALL: Detroit to Flint Water Justice Journey." Several organizations sponsored the walk and many … [Read more...]
Infrastructure Management Planning Implications of Infrastructure Upgrade in Salado, Texas
In late July 2015 the Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration announced that they will be awarding a 1.5 million dollar grant to the Village of Salado, Texas to help upgrade water and sewer systems. The Government is doing this as part of its continual commitment to invest in America's infrastructure. The Village of Salado is very thankful for this investment, … [Read more...]
Funding Water Infrastructure Repair through Asset Management Planning
Using land sales to fund water infrastructure repair is not a new idea. Officials from Paris to New York City have used this strategy - mostly in the 19th century, when cities were growing most quickly. It will be interesting to see whether or not funding through land sales will make a comeback now, in the 21st century, when so much infrastructure funding is needed. A utility in … [Read more...]