Experts from American Water presented at the 27th Annual WateReuse Symposium in Hollywood, Fla., on Sept. 9-12.

The Department of Justice, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General recently announced a comprehensive Clean Water Act settlement with the City of Chattanooga, Tenn. Chattanooga has agreed to pay a $476,400 civil penalty and make improvements to its sewer systems, estimated by the city at $250 million, to eliminate unauthorized overflows of untreated raw sewage.

In 2005, an EPA advisory panel (EFAB) issued a white paper on financing infrastructure over the useful life of the assets. The paper wasn?t widely distributed or broadcast for the general public at the time, but EPA?s senior managers hailed the analysis and called for further study of industry practices.

The political landscape for utility managers is changing as sink holes, plaque cities and boiling orders to customers become commonplace. Elected officials are also feeling the pinch with limited funds, increasing operational costs and the need to understand and explain corrosion issues to their rate base. It is in this new public water climate that better pipe selection material decision making is an absolute.

In fall 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its much-anticipated Clean Water and Drinking Water Gap Analysis. The report became one of the most-cited documents within the water/wastewater sector, highlighting the challenges we face with regard to aging infrastructure and capital investment.

The renewal and replacement of infrastructure is one of the greatest challenges facing the water industry. Cost estimates for needed system investment range from the hundreds of billions of dollars to trillions of dollars by 2035.

As the largest water utility in the State of Rhode Island, Providence Water supplies 60 percent of the state?s drinking water, which includes wholesale distribution and 72,000 retail customer connections across 17 cities and towns.

Accountability is defined by Webster?s Dictionary as ?responsibility to someone or for some activity; the state of being accountable; liability to be called on to render an account; Syn: answerable, liable, responsible.? Accountability is an important word, and commitment, in the distribution of potable water.

The Southern California Alliance of Publicly Owned Treatment Works (SCAP), which represents more than 80 wastewater agencies, recently conducted a roundtable discussion with four long-time California wastewater industry leaders on the multiple challenges facing the industry.

The fifth Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) was a huge success. Held in conjunction with two other events (the third World Cities Summit and the inaugural CleanEnviro Singapore) at the famous Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Center, SIWW took place July 1-5.