08 Editorial 14
EDITORIAL
letter
Water & Wastes Digest 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201 Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025 847.298.6622 • F: 847.390.0408 www.wwdmag.com
EDITORIAL STAFF
Disheartening
‘D’ T
he American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2013 Report Card for America’s infrastructure is out, and the results are not much better than those four years ago. According to the report, the nation’s infrastructure’s average grade has improved slightly, from a D to a D+. Both water and wastewater showed minimal improvement, coming in with a disheartening D, up from a D- in 2009. While the slight improvement is a step in the right direction, a D grade is hardly favorable. The past four years, however, have not been “business as usual.” At the end of 2009, the nation saw average unemployment rates of 10%, and home prices continued to fall. Federal funding cuts to the water and wastewater State Revolving Funds programs also have grown deeper since the last ASCE report. Neda Simeonova, editorial director In the meantime, our water and wastewater [email protected] structure continues to age. Significant investments— more than $1 trillion—are required in coming decades if we are to maintain essential water and wastewater systems, according to the American Water Works Assn. report “Buried No Longer,” released in 2012. The Congressional Budget Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other groups have estimated that it could take more than $300 billion to address the nation’s sewage collection and treatment infrastructure needs over 20 years to keep our surface waters safe and clean. This is twice the current level of investment by all levels of government, according to the ASCE report. While the need to invest in infrastructure continues to grow, and there is a strong belief that infrastructure funding is particularly important in maintaining economic growth, levels of public investment have been falling since the 1970s. Additionally, utilities continue to feel the impact of tightening regulatory requirements. New rules that ensure public safety and focus on environmental protection put pressure on barebones budgets and typically result in less money for necessary routine maintenance. At this point, improving the nation’s infrastructure will require a multipronged approach. To address the challenges at hand, utilities will have to continue to evaluate the full cost of providing a safe supply of drinking water to their customers and determine how to set water rates that reflect those costs. The State Revolving Funds will require additional federal support. Our industry will have to push for access to funds at U.S. Department of the Treasury rates to support loans for water projects. But, most importantly, investment in water and sanitation projects will have to shift from public to private participation. The technologies to deliver and collect water and wastewater in a healthy, sustainable way for generations to come are available. It is time to make infrastructure a priority.
Editorial Director
Neda Simeonova
Managing Editor
Elizabeth Lisican
Associate Editor
Kate Cline
Associate Editor
Mary Beth Nevulis
Assistant Editor
Amy McIntosh
Assistant Editor
Williette Nyanue
Designer
Robin Hicks
Adv ertising & Sales 7150 E. Camelback, Suite 325 • Scottsdale, AZ 85251 tel: 480.941.0510 • fax: 480.423.1443 Integrated Media Consultant
David Rairigh [email protected] (phone x25)
Integrated Media Consultant
Fred Ferris [email protected], 773.314.6250
Integrated Media Consultant John Rogier [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1053) Integrated Media Consultant
Celeste Scarfi-Tellez [email protected], 831.703.4345
Classified Sales Manager
Donna Aly [email protected] (phone x13)
Reprint Coordinator Adrienne Miller [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1036) List Rental Contact Geffrey Gardner [email protected] 845.201.5331 Advertising Coordinator Erica Rivera [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1049)
M a nagement Vice President/Group Publisher
Dennis Martyka
Associate Publisher
VP Custom Publishing
VP Events
Harry Urban
VP Information Technology
Joel Hughes
Director of Audience Development
Doug Riemer
Director of Creative Services & Promotions
Chairperson
K.S. Gillette
President/CEO
E.S. Gillette
Sr. Vice President
Sr. Vice President, CFO
Chairman Emeritus
Greg Tres Diane Vojcanin
Sandi Stevenson
Corporate A. O’Neill Dave Shreiner H.S. Gillette (1922-2003)
Editorial Adv isory Board
Dr. YuJung Chang
Paul Rice
HDR Engineering Inc. Siemens Water Technologies
Dawn C. Kristof Champney WWEMA
Tom Mills
Severn Trent Services
Dr. Larry W. Moore
University of Memphis
Andy Richardson
Greeley & Hansen LLC
Chuck Reading
REACO Associates LLC
Statement of Purpose Water & Wastes Digest is published exclusively for the 80,000+ decision makers in the municipal and industrial water, wastewater and water pollution industries. These individuals actively design, specify, buy, operate and maintain the equipment, chemicals and services used for water treatment. Editorial content in this audited publication highlights new products and technologies concerning the supply, collection, treatment and distribution of drinking water; the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater; and hazardous waste pollution control. A product directory is included in the annual June Buyer’s Guide.
Scranton Gillette Communications’ Infrastructure Team
COMING UP NEXT MONTH... 2013-2014 Water & Wastes Digest Buyer’s Guide • Alphabetical Supplier Directory • Categorized Products and Services Directory 8
Industrial Water & Wastes Digest
May 2013 • Water & Wastes Digest
letter
Water & Wastes Digest 3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201 Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025 847.298.6622 • F: 847.390.0408 www.wwdmag.com
EDITORIAL STAFF
Disheartening
‘D’ T
he American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) 2013 Report Card for America’s infrastructure is out, and the results are not much better than those four years ago. According to the report, the nation’s infrastructure’s average grade has improved slightly, from a D to a D+. Both water and wastewater showed minimal improvement, coming in with a disheartening D, up from a D- in 2009. While the slight improvement is a step in the right direction, a D grade is hardly favorable. The past four years, however, have not been “business as usual.” At the end of 2009, the nation saw average unemployment rates of 10%, and home prices continued to fall. Federal funding cuts to the water and wastewater State Revolving Funds programs also have grown deeper since the last ASCE report. Neda Simeonova, editorial director In the meantime, our water and wastewater [email protected] structure continues to age. Significant investments— more than $1 trillion—are required in coming decades if we are to maintain essential water and wastewater systems, according to the American Water Works Assn. report “Buried No Longer,” released in 2012. The Congressional Budget Office, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other groups have estimated that it could take more than $300 billion to address the nation’s sewage collection and treatment infrastructure needs over 20 years to keep our surface waters safe and clean. This is twice the current level of investment by all levels of government, according to the ASCE report. While the need to invest in infrastructure continues to grow, and there is a strong belief that infrastructure funding is particularly important in maintaining economic growth, levels of public investment have been falling since the 1970s. Additionally, utilities continue to feel the impact of tightening regulatory requirements. New rules that ensure public safety and focus on environmental protection put pressure on barebones budgets and typically result in less money for necessary routine maintenance. At this point, improving the nation’s infrastructure will require a multipronged approach. To address the challenges at hand, utilities will have to continue to evaluate the full cost of providing a safe supply of drinking water to their customers and determine how to set water rates that reflect those costs. The State Revolving Funds will require additional federal support. Our industry will have to push for access to funds at U.S. Department of the Treasury rates to support loans for water projects. But, most importantly, investment in water and sanitation projects will have to shift from public to private participation. The technologies to deliver and collect water and wastewater in a healthy, sustainable way for generations to come are available. It is time to make infrastructure a priority.
Editorial Director
Neda Simeonova
Managing Editor
Elizabeth Lisican
Associate Editor
Kate Cline
Associate Editor
Mary Beth Nevulis
Assistant Editor
Amy McIntosh
Assistant Editor
Williette Nyanue
Designer
Robin Hicks
Adv ertising & Sales 7150 E. Camelback, Suite 325 • Scottsdale, AZ 85251 tel: 480.941.0510 • fax: 480.423.1443 Integrated Media Consultant
David Rairigh [email protected] (phone x25)
Integrated Media Consultant
Fred Ferris [email protected], 773.314.6250
Integrated Media Consultant John Rogier [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1053) Integrated Media Consultant
Celeste Scarfi-Tellez [email protected], 831.703.4345
Classified Sales Manager
Donna Aly [email protected] (phone x13)
Reprint Coordinator Adrienne Miller [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1036) List Rental Contact Geffrey Gardner [email protected] 845.201.5331 Advertising Coordinator Erica Rivera [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1049)
M a nagement Vice President/Group Publisher
Dennis Martyka
Associate Publisher
VP Custom Publishing
VP Events
Harry Urban
VP Information Technology
Joel Hughes
Director of Audience Development
Doug Riemer
Director of Creative Services & Promotions
Chairperson
K.S. Gillette
President/CEO
E.S. Gillette
Sr. Vice President
Sr. Vice President, CFO
Chairman Emeritus
Greg Tres Diane Vojcanin
Sandi Stevenson
Corporate A. O’Neill Dave Shreiner H.S. Gillette (1922-2003)
Editorial Adv isory Board
Dr. YuJung Chang
Paul Rice
HDR Engineering Inc. Siemens Water Technologies
Dawn C. Kristof Champney WWEMA
Tom Mills
Severn Trent Services
Dr. Larry W. Moore
University of Memphis
Andy Richardson
Greeley & Hansen LLC
Chuck Reading
REACO Associates LLC
Statement of Purpose Water & Wastes Digest is published exclusively for the 80,000+ decision makers in the municipal and industrial water, wastewater and water pollution industries. These individuals actively design, specify, buy, operate and maintain the equipment, chemicals and services used for water treatment. Editorial content in this audited publication highlights new products and technologies concerning the supply, collection, treatment and distribution of drinking water; the collection, treatment and disposal of wastewater; and hazardous waste pollution control. A product directory is included in the annual June Buyer’s Guide.
Scranton Gillette Communications’ Infrastructure Team
COMING UP NEXT MONTH... 2013-2014 Water & Wastes Digest Buyer’s Guide • Alphabetical Supplier Directory • Categorized Products and Services Directory 8
Industrial Water & Wastes Digest
May 2013 • Water & Wastes Digest
