Articles by: Contributing Author

COMMENTARY: Construct Water Infrastructure Projects Right the First Time

COMMENTARY: Construct Water Infrastructure Projects Right the First Time

Commentary, Water Finance, Water Management January 9, 2019 at 11:13 am

By Tony Hyde One unifying factor for both the general public, but also for many of us who vote for, manage and design infrastructure projects, is that water and wastewater projects can feel as though they are out of sight, out of mind. Buried pipeRead More

Rate Structuring & Steering the Conversation from Skepticism to Acceptance

Rate Structuring & Steering the Conversation from Skepticism to Acceptance

By Prabha Kumar The ethos and expectations of the utility management, the administration, the rate-approving body and the ratepayers intersect during every utility’s rate setting and approval process. Municipal utilities, municipal authorities and investor-owned utilities that head down the rate setting path all need to effectivelyRead More

What did the midterm election results mean for water?

What did the midterm election results mean for water?

Washington Report January 4, 2019 at 10:00 am

By Scott Berry This year’s midterm elections had the highest turnout in a half century, with 49 percent of the population voting for candidates at the national, state and local level. In the U.S. House of Representatives, control flipped with Democrats poised to pick upRead More

Better Flow Monitoring, Greater Transparency

Better Flow Monitoring, Greater Transparency

AMR/AMI, Water Loss, Water Management January 3, 2019 at 9:00 am

Water Utilities Continue to Raise the Bar on How They Use Data By Dan Pinney Consumers are becoming more tech-savvy and, as a result, their expectations for the data and services utilities offer are more demanding than ever. They want to see data to supportRead More

Another Water Imperative…A (New) Qualified Workforce

Another Water Imperative…A (New) Qualified Workforce

Water Management January 2, 2019 at 11:04 am

Water utilities are dealing with a number of priorities. With pending retirements, access to a qualified workforce is moving up on the list…procurement can make a difference. By Jim Baehr Escalating operational cost, access to capital, regulations, decaying infrastructure, cybersecurity, as well as ever-increasing customerRead More

The  Great Kansas Aqueduct: Solution or Folly from a Bygone Era?

The Great Kansas Aqueduct: Solution or Folly from a Bygone Era?

Water Management November 26, 2018 at 10:50 am

By Michael Warady The United States has long been known as a country willing to take gigantic risks in order to build innovative infrastructure for future generations. The Transcontinental Railroad vastly improved cross-country travel, paying for itself through an increase in trade and transport acrossRead More

Educating to Employ: Public Works Programs Help to Close Gaps

Educating to Employ: Public Works Programs Help to Close Gaps

Commentary, Water Management November 12, 2018 at 12:04 pm

By Mike Russin The jobs report may show the unemployment rate at a rare low, but one industry has been struggling to hire for several years now. Municipalities are facing a workforce gap as Baby Boomers continue to enter retirement — and the jobs availableRead More

Business Intelligence for Business Development?

Business Intelligence for Business Development?

AMR/AMI, Technology Perspectives, Water Management October 26, 2018 at 2:30 pm

BY GREG BAIRD The U.S. water market has been called fragmented, slow moving, highly competitive and ever evolving with new mergers, products, services and technologies. Business development managers for existing water firms are feeling the increased level of competition, and new entrants to the waterRead More

Pipe Bursting for Water Line Replacement

Pipe Bursting for Water Line Replacement

Rehab & Replacement, Water Management September 10, 2018 at 9:00 am

By John Blondell & Christopher Overcash Much of our nation’s underground infrastructure is reaching or functioning beyond expected lifespans. This critical network of pipes and mains serve our most basic drinking water and sanitary sewer needs. Many municipalities are faced with the challenging task ofRead More

Condition Assessment: The Cornerstone of Asset Management

Condition Assessment: The Cornerstone of Asset Management

Prioritizing Your Aging Water Infrastructure Needs through a Systematic, Comprehensive Approach By Ahmad Habibian The deteriorating state of the nation’s water infrastructure has resulted in premature failures, costly emergency repairs and negative publicity. Given the limited availability of resources, utilities are looking for cost-effective condition assessmentRead More