08 Editorial 3
EDITORIAL
letter
Water & Wastes Digest Business-to-business communications for more than 100 years
please do resuscitate A
t one time America’s water infrastructure was the most advanced in the world, but this is far from the truth today. Talks of facilities and underground pipe and systems nearing the end of their useful life have lasted for more than a decade, but we are not much further along today. One only has to take a look around to see that the condition of our nation’s infrastructure continues to decline. A new report from the American Water Works Assn. (AWWA) indicates that $1 trillion will be needed for repairs and expansion of U.S. water infrastructure alone over the next 25 years. The report, titled “Buried No Longer: Confronting America’s Water Infrastructure Challenge,” takes various factors into consideration, including timing of water main installation and life Neda Simeonova, editorial director expectancy, materials used, replacement costs and [email protected] shifting demographics. According to the report’s findings, infrastructure needs across the nation are evenly divided between replacement and expansion requirements. In February, the Vermont Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers released its “Report Card for Vermont’s Infrastructure.” The report card provides an evaluation and letter grade for Vermont’s roads, bridges, dams, municipal drinking water and municipal wastewater systems. These five areas of infrastructure grades ranged from a “C” to a “D+”, with drinking water scoring a “C-” and wastewater scoring a “D+.” Surprisingly, these low scores show improvement from 2009, when Vermont’s water and wastewater infrastructure barely passed with a “D-.” Vermont is not alone. Just about every state is dealing with funding starved municipalities, outdated systems of desperate need of repair or replacement, overloaded sewer systems and water main breaks. This was not always the case. Just as recently as 1995, the World Economic Forum listed U.S. infrastructure as one of the best in the world. Unfortunately, we have slipped down to 23rd place in 2011. It is painfully obvious that we can no longer continue to rest on our laurels. Water is cheap; too cheap to cover the cost of maintenance, upgrades, replacements and expansions required to bring our infrastructure into the 21st century. Among the AWWA’s report findings, two key points stand out: Household water bills will go up, and postponing investment will only worsen the problem. To solve our water infrastructure problem, we need to fundamentally shift public and water systems’ understanding of true water costs, and to clearly identify the expenses associated with sustainably treating, delivering and collecting water and wastewater for the long term. If our infrastructure has indeed reached the end of its useful life, we cannot stand idly by and watch its spiraled decline. The time has come to resuscitate.
3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201 Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025 847.298.6622 • F: 847.390.0408 www.wwdmag.com
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Director
Neda Simeonova
Managing Editor
Elizabeth Lisican
Associate Editor
Kate Cline
Associate Editor
Mary Beth Nevulis
Contributing Editor
Caitlin Cunningham
Contributing Editor
Leslie Streicher
Designer
Robin Hicks
Adv ertising & Sales 6900 E. Camelback, Suite 400 • 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] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1003)
Integrated Media Consultant John Rogier [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1053) Integrated Media Consultant
Celeste Scarfi [email protected] (phone x12)
Classified Sales Manager
Donna Aly [email protected] (phone x13)
Reprint Coordinator Adrienne Miller [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1036) List Rental Contact John Ganis 914.368.1024 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 85,000+ 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...
8
• Emergency Preparedness
• Pumps & Valves
• Asset Management
• Mapping Systems & GIS
• Sludge Management
• Special Section: Energy Efficiency
Industrial Water & Wastes Digest
March 2012 • Water & Wastes Digest
letter
Water & Wastes Digest Business-to-business communications for more than 100 years
please do resuscitate A
t one time America’s water infrastructure was the most advanced in the world, but this is far from the truth today. Talks of facilities and underground pipe and systems nearing the end of their useful life have lasted for more than a decade, but we are not much further along today. One only has to take a look around to see that the condition of our nation’s infrastructure continues to decline. A new report from the American Water Works Assn. (AWWA) indicates that $1 trillion will be needed for repairs and expansion of U.S. water infrastructure alone over the next 25 years. The report, titled “Buried No Longer: Confronting America’s Water Infrastructure Challenge,” takes various factors into consideration, including timing of water main installation and life Neda Simeonova, editorial director expectancy, materials used, replacement costs and [email protected] shifting demographics. According to the report’s findings, infrastructure needs across the nation are evenly divided between replacement and expansion requirements. In February, the Vermont Section of the American Society of Civil Engineers released its “Report Card for Vermont’s Infrastructure.” The report card provides an evaluation and letter grade for Vermont’s roads, bridges, dams, municipal drinking water and municipal wastewater systems. These five areas of infrastructure grades ranged from a “C” to a “D+”, with drinking water scoring a “C-” and wastewater scoring a “D+.” Surprisingly, these low scores show improvement from 2009, when Vermont’s water and wastewater infrastructure barely passed with a “D-.” Vermont is not alone. Just about every state is dealing with funding starved municipalities, outdated systems of desperate need of repair or replacement, overloaded sewer systems and water main breaks. This was not always the case. Just as recently as 1995, the World Economic Forum listed U.S. infrastructure as one of the best in the world. Unfortunately, we have slipped down to 23rd place in 2011. It is painfully obvious that we can no longer continue to rest on our laurels. Water is cheap; too cheap to cover the cost of maintenance, upgrades, replacements and expansions required to bring our infrastructure into the 21st century. Among the AWWA’s report findings, two key points stand out: Household water bills will go up, and postponing investment will only worsen the problem. To solve our water infrastructure problem, we need to fundamentally shift public and water systems’ understanding of true water costs, and to clearly identify the expenses associated with sustainably treating, delivering and collecting water and wastewater for the long term. If our infrastructure has indeed reached the end of its useful life, we cannot stand idly by and watch its spiraled decline. The time has come to resuscitate.
3030 W. Salt Creek Lane, Suite 201 Arlington Heights, IL 60005-5025 847.298.6622 • F: 847.390.0408 www.wwdmag.com
EDITORIAL STAFF
Editorial Director
Neda Simeonova
Managing Editor
Elizabeth Lisican
Associate Editor
Kate Cline
Associate Editor
Mary Beth Nevulis
Contributing Editor
Caitlin Cunningham
Contributing Editor
Leslie Streicher
Designer
Robin Hicks
Adv ertising & Sales 6900 E. Camelback, Suite 400 • 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] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1003)
Integrated Media Consultant John Rogier [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1053) Integrated Media Consultant
Celeste Scarfi [email protected] (phone x12)
Classified Sales Manager
Donna Aly [email protected] (phone x13)
Reprint Coordinator Adrienne Miller [email protected] (Arlington Heights office, 847.391.1036) List Rental Contact John Ganis 914.368.1024 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 85,000+ 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...
8
• Emergency Preparedness
• Pumps & Valves
• Asset Management
• Mapping Systems & GIS
• Sludge Management
• Special Section: Energy Efficiency
Industrial Water & Wastes Digest
March 2012 • Water & Wastes Digest
