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...]
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?
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 which cannot sustain such immense population growth. A group of experts at nature.com have several interesting ideas about how this … [Read more...]
New Investment Center Initiative to Aid Water Systems and Development in Western USA
The U.S. Department of the Interior launched a new center in December 2015 to encourage water infrastructure investment in the dry West of the United States. The Natural Resource Investment Center (NRIC) has been set up in the hopes that new infrastructure will be developed and invested in as well as increased conservation of existing water. Ecosystem Marketplace reports: "It is not yet … [Read more...]
Forging Public-Private Agreement as a Water Utility Infrastructure Management Strategy
Phoenix, Arizona's EPCOR Water and Maricopa Water District announced an innovative agreement on the 17th of November 2015 that will assist in supplying water needs in western metropilatan Phoenix as land uses changes from farming to residential. The partnership is signed for 50 years, allowing EPCOR Water to purchase water from MWD and ultimately decrease its reliance on groundwater pumping. … [Read more...]
Assessing Future Demand, Florida Sinkholes and Groundwater Pumping
A deadly sinkhole that claimed the life of a Florida man two years ago reopened last summer. Local authorities believe that this may be due to heavy rains. Sinkholes are often the result of groundwater levels becoming too low following excessive pumping. Florida has also seen wells dry up due to overuse of groundwater during dry spells. The Southwest Florida Water Management District, or … [Read more...]
How Infrastructure Asset Management Can Help Tackle Sewage Problems in the USA
Municipal water treatment plants deal with the raw sewage of roughly 80 percent of America's households. Almost all of these facilities treat the waste and release the treated waste into a nearby body of water. However, often, if the plant is handling more than its capacity, untreated waste is also leaked into lakes, rivers, and oceans. According to the EPA, an estimated 23,000-75,000 … [Read more...]
Managing Severe Drought Conditions through Infrastructure Management Planning
Many U.S. states faced water shortage and drought conditions through 2015. This was partly to do with water sources (such as groundwater or snowpack levels) and partly to do with water and infrastructure management with these sources. USA Today has produced a list of the eight most severely effected states, which are: South Carolina, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Nevada, California, Washington, and … [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...]
Analyzing Future Demand – Water Study of Coryell County Texas
On Monday the 10th of August 2015, the Coryell County Commissioners Court approved $10,000 to begin a study that would analyze the water sources, future water needs and population growth for the area. One of the particular aims of the study is to decide whether a new off-channel reservoir between two towns on a tributary next to Cowhouse Creek will ultimately be beneficial to the County … [Read more...]
Water Rationing Lifted in Taiwan as Worst Drought Ends
Taiwan has experienced its worst drought in 67 years over the last few months, but with a downpour of seasonal rain, the drought was declared finished this month. However, severe water rationing was put in place for the duration of the drought, and compared to the rationing that Californian's were recently upset about, it seems catastrophic. It is interesting to note the methods used to … [Read more...]
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