This year the words 'California' and 'drought' have become synonymous in media throughout the world, but it is interesting to note that California is not the only place to struggle with very limited water resources. Singapore has had a permanent water crisis ever since the island city-state was …
Infrastructure Asset Management Blog
Infrastructure Management Planning – Solution for Water-less CA Town
East Porterville is a rural city with a population of 6,700 - mostly poor Latino farmworkers; and this city has a big problem - there is no more water. Nearly 1000 private wells that once delivered water to homes and small businesses have dried up, leaving residents with very limited options and …
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Major Gains in Utility Infrastructure Asset Management at Taunton MA
In 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an order to Taunton, Massachusetts to eliminate all CSO from its water systems. Originally the city was given a 2013 deadline, but this has since been extended. Years ago, city managers concluded that relining aged sewer lines is far …
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Infrastructure Asset Management – Wichita Falls TX Beats the Drought
Although the drought lingers in Texas and other Western states, Wichita Falls has taken a very proactive approach. They are currently the only U.S. city to serve recycled wastewater to homes. Wichita Falls relies on reservoirs and continues to be under a Stage 5 drought emergency. Last year …
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Infrastructure Asset Management Lets NZ Manage Infra Better and Smarter
Discussing on infrastructure asset management mandate in New Zealand towns and cities, Heather observed that the country was keen on achieving financial efficiency and flexibility of implementing agencies. She expressed that they would not want somebody to say, “You must use program X. You must …
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Why Asset Management Hasn’t Been Regulated in US Towns and Cities
With reference to the crumbling water infrastructure of America, a participant asked the question "Why asset management hasn't been regulated in US towns and cities like in New Zealand?" Ross said that he doesn't know much about American politics and mentioned that New Zealand regulated quite …
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Asset Management is About Saving Money and Avoiding Infrastructure Breakdown
Ross discussed the importance of asset management in terms of saving money and preventing infrastructure breakdown that would affect normal utility operation and maintenance budget. Ross explains: Asset management is about committing a bit of thought up front, a bit of inspection and a …
Two Ways to Institutionalize Asset Management in Your Utility System
Discussing how to institutionalize asset management in local authorities and utility organizations, Heather and Ross presented two ways this could be done. Celebrating your successes Heather observed that asset management thinking gets to be embedded by celebrating your successes. We’re not …
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Infrastructure Implications of California’s Water Reduction
There has been a lot of talk in the last couple of weeks about the Governor of California’s water restrictions. He is calling for mandatory 25% reductions in potable water usage in urban areas. There are many issues to work out regarding how these reductions will be implemented across the …
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Californian Drought-Fighters Learn from Australia’s Experience
Australia is well known for managing almost every drop of water available to it, to make the most of the supplies on the driest inhabited continent. This has not gone unnoticed by California, which is now looking to the land Down Under for inspiration on ways to manage its …
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Will Mayor’s Declaration of Infrastructure Emergency Solve Jackson Mississippi’s Funding Issue?
On March 27 Tony Yarber, Mayor of Jackson, Mississippi declared an infrastructure emergency, which expired after seven days. Soon after, Mayor Yarber signed a second emergency declaration declaring a 30-day emergency. This second declaration has yet to be approved by the City Council, who are …
Water Supply Concern in KY – Using Old Pipelines to Carry Fracked Liquids
Residents of the State of Kentucky are not happy with energy company Kinder Morgan's plans to re-purpose a 1940s pipeline over 900 miles to carry natural gas liquids from the fracking zones in Ohio and Pennsylvania across Kentucky to the nation's petrochemical hub in Louisiana and Texas. Quite …
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