Guest Columns

COMMENTARY: Time to Start Recycling for Research

COMMENTARY: Time to Start Recycling for Research

Commentary, Guest Columns April 8, 2019 at 8:56 am

By Gordon Henrich As I was moderating a session at a trenchless rehab seminar it became obvious that most research and development in our industry is being done on new pipe and manholes ordered directly from a manufacturer. If our focus is rehabilitation, why aren’t weRead More

White House FY20 budget proposes cuts for EPA, Army Corps

White House FY20 budget proposes cuts for EPA, Army Corps

Financial Report, Washington Report, Water Finance March 18, 2019 at 6:00 am

Funding for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency would be cut by nearly a third next year under an FY20 budget proposal released by the Trump administration last week. The spending cuts, which would reduce EPA appropriations from their FY19 level of just over $8.8 billion to $6.1Read More

National Water Policy Fly-In to host clean water executives, EPA officials at Water Week anchor event

National Water Policy Fly-In to host clean water executives, EPA officials at Water Week anchor event

Washington Report, Water Finance, Water Management March 11, 2019 at 9:02 am

This week, water sector leaders from across the United States will join regulators, water advocacy groups and elected officials at the National Water Policy Fly-In, April 3-4, at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. The National Water Policy Fly-In serves as the anchor eventRead More

WWEMA Washington Forum to highlight technology, trade during Water Week

WWEMA Washington Forum to highlight technology, trade during Water Week

Washington Report, Water Management March 11, 2019 at 8:01 am

This week the Water & Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) will join several other major water organizations for Water Week 2019, a national policy event that draws water professionals from across the country together to advocate for the unique needs of drinking water and cleanRead More

Clean Water SRF would receive largest-ever increase under new bill

Clean Water SRF would receive largest-ever increase under new bill

Washington Report, Water Finance March 11, 2019 at 6:12 am

Clean water organizations and advocates in the water sector are praising Congress for its bipartisan introduction of the Water Quality Protection and Jobs Creation Act of 2019. The National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA) is joining other major clean water organizations in supporting theRead More

EPA-color-logo

Senate confirms Wheeler as EPA chief

Washington Report, Water Finance March 4, 2019 at 10:45 am

The Senate voted 52-47 last week to confirm Andrew Wheeler as the next administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Wheeler was expected to be sworn in after holding the position of acting administrator since Scott Pruitt resigned from the post last July. FollowingRead More

Legal Corner: The Rules of the Game

Legal Corner: The Rules of the Game

Legal Corner, Water Finance February 28, 2019 at 9:02 am

By Ryan Callender & J. Wes Kerns On Dec. 22, 2017, H.R. 1 (the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act”) was signed into law. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, among other things, reduced corporate tax rates, modified individual tax rates, eliminated many deductions, repealed theRead More

The Value of Industry-University Collaborative Research

The Value of Industry-University Collaborative Research

Commentary, Guest Columns February 25, 2019 at 9:00 am

By John Matthews Traditionally, research conducted at many universities falls under the category of fundamental research, which is primarily conducted to enhance our basic knowledge in a certain area. In the trenchless technology industry, and regarding the university researchers active in the field, the focusRead More

Enhancing Your Utility’s Long-Term Financial Sustainability & Resilience through Cash Reserves

Enhancing Your Utility’s Long-Term Financial Sustainability & Resilience through Cash Reserves

By Andy McCartney Personal financial advisors often recommend that families should have enough money in an emergency fund to cover at least three to six months of living expenses. Corporations such as Microsoft, General Electric and Home Depot maintain excess operating funds for their ownRead More

Executive order aims to encourage use of American-made products

Executive order aims to encourage use of American-made products

Washington Report, Water Management February 11, 2019 at 12:56 pm

In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to increase the use of domestically-produced iron, steel, cement and manufactured goods on a broad range of water and other infrastructure projects that receive federal funding assistance. However, the order does not alter theRead More