Articles by: Contributing Author

By Constantine Antoniou Sodium hydroxide is used as an acidity control and metal remover by water utilities. Too much of the corrosive material can cause chemical burns and other uncomfortable side effects. In 2021, when a hacker accessed a Florida water utility’s computer system andRead More

By Wayne Hofmann An engineer, a contractor and a utility owner walked into a bar. They had just finished a long day reviewing plans at the construction site, and they were all feeling a little drained. They ordered their drinks and saddled up to theRead More

By John Ryan Rapidly rising interest rates were a primary cause of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. Its multiple consequences will almost certainly mark the start of an extended period of interest rate volatility. The Federal Reserve is steering a narrow course between taming inflation and inflictingRead More

| By Gregory M. Baird Cities across the United States are struggling with maintaining existing infrastructure with supply chain disruptions and rising costs of equipment, manpower and supplies. Likewise, developers are faced with many challenges to plan, finance and build basic infrastructure and housing unitsRead More

| By Robert Sheets Last summer, Ellory Monks and Shalini Vajjhala writing for the Brookings Institute, noted that $850 billion of funding is coming from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). They rightfully note that funding like this typically goes to larger, wealthier communities.Read More

By Chris Dermody, Raja Kadiyala & Ravi Vennelakanti The challenges related to managing sewer collection systems are well understood. These include an ever-growing quantity of sewer inspection videos needing to be assessed and acted upon each year. In the total lifespan of this inspection dataRead More

By Steve Kramer Too few bidders. Bids above engineer’s estimates. Labor shortages. Material shortages and price increases. Delays in design or construction. Increasing claims or change orders. Do these events sound familiar? The underground construction business is impacted by continuing and new challenges. The linearRead More

By Arun Thankarajah Ongoing leaks can waste a lot of energy, resources, and money, especially on flat terrain where municipal pumping is required to keep the system pressurized and where water is purchased from a local municipal purveyor at retail rates. Mueller was recently hiredRead More

By Michael DiGiannantonio The U.S. EPA has released its proposed maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) – two common types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). Under the proposed MCLs, drinking water utilities across the country would be forcedRead More

By Frank A. Monforte The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly altered our way of life. One of the most drastic and visible shifts was the mass exodus of employees from commercial office spaces during the lockdown period of the pandemic. This had an impact on numerous industries,Read More