Leanne Butkovic, editorial assistant, interviews representatives from Insituform, McGard and Primayer/ADS about recent awards at AWWA’s ACE10.

The National Utility Contractors Association (NUCA) recently honored the 2009 recipient of its prestigious ?We Dig America Award? ? Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.).

The Water Environment Federation (WEF) announced recently its plans to initiate a search for a new executive director to lead the 81-year old non-profit technical and educational water quality organization.

AWWA named David B. LaFrance as its new executive director. He was scheduled to join the staff in May.

JM Eagle, the world?s largest manufacturer of plastic pipe, recently announced it is issuing an unprecedented 50-year warranty against manufacturing defects for its pipe products.

May 12-13 brought together 70 attendees from across the United States to discuss water issues facing large city mayors. Mayor Brian Stratton of Schenectady hosted the meeting.

Perhaps it was the destination ? the magnificent Gaylord Texan Hotel & Convention Center in Dallas. Perhaps it was the coordination with the Design-Build Transport annual conference.

The North American Society for Trenchless Technology (NASTT) held its annual No-Dig Show May 2-7 and reported a record-breaking number of attendees for a non-international show ? a positive sign for the trenchless industry.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is initiating a rulemaking to better protect the environment and public health from the harmful effects of sanitary sewer overflows (SSOs) and basement backups.

Design and construction markets related to environment, infrastructure and facilities contracted in 2009, but management consultants Farkas Berkowitz & Co. forecast that these markets will bottom out in 2010 and enjoy at least modest growth in 2011.