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| April Issue Post Date 3/24/06 | www.mcelroy.com | |
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Note From The Editor There is a lot of buzz about funding for U.S. water infrastructure. The EPA, Congressional Budget Office, Office of Management and Budget and several private studies agree that the funding need runs somewhere over $260 billion for the next twenty years. Nobody is arguing whether or not it is needed, instead, the huge differences of opinion centers on the federal government’s role in funding. Congress has cut funding for infrastructure for two straight years and plans to do it again for FY2007. Some say it is a plan to eventually eliminate all federal funding for infrastructure by 2011 and move to privatization. Meanwhile, bipartisan legislation has been introduced to set up a trust fund for infrastructure much like those for highways and airports. Here-in lies the difference of opinion – there are those who feel the government should pay for it all, and those that think the government should pay nothing. At least we know the two sides have a firm grip on how far apart they are – it is $260 billion. To me, the state of our infrastructure is a lot like my 12-year-old son's lawn mowing business. When the grass reaches mid-shin, the home owners become very vocal and give him a firm talking-to. When it comes to water infrastructure, homeowners can't physically see how neglected it has been. If they could, they would haven been vocal about it a long time ago and somebody would have gotten an earful. Back to my son's lawn mowing business - if homeowners could not see their grass at all, my boy would never cut it but show up on Friday for payday. That's what has been happening with our water infrastructure. Nobody could see it and now a huge percentage of it is at the end of its life. It's like the grass grew to the roof of the house and my son's grandmother wants him to cut it for the same $15 dollars. We have ourselves a standoff. It is a bit scary to think of giving control of something that is as basic to human life as water, to the private, for-profit sector. But it is almost certain that privatization would do a better job of managing water infrastructure than the current system. A nice solution would be for the government to maintain control of water, partially fund it through a trust fund and mandate environmental regulations while the private sector handles the distribution. No mater where infrastructure funding comes from, Americans are going to have to start paying more for it. We’ve had a cheap ride for a very long time. And if distribution managers are set up to make lasting profit, they’ll use the best distribution system that technology has to offer – HDPE. If they continue to use piping materials that waste water, and doesn’t have a long life expectancy, homeowners will see the weeds getting high because it will be reflected on their water bill and then somebody will get a firm talking-to.Drew L. Wilson; Editor (918) 831-9286 State
Of The Infrastructure (http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:h.r.04560:) to address the looming water infrastructure funding gap, which has been estimated at $300 billion over the next 20 years. H.R. 4560 would create a deficit-neutral trust fund that will help guarantee a sustainable and shared federal-state-local investment in clean water and would also secure increased funding for the CWSRF.
Oil of the 21st Century Raleigh Enacts Mandatory Water Conservation Groups urge conservation as water decision looms High court may hear Missouri River appeal Maine attorney general probing agency over plan for river Negotiators reach deal on Great Lakes water protection Pollution threatens revered Jordan River
NUCA Guest Spot To find out how you can help, call Eben Wyman, Vice President, Government Relations for NUCA at 703-358-9300.
Links North American Society for Trenchless Technology American Water Works Association American Society of Civil Engineers Foundation Newsletter Links Water World - Receive news from WaterWorld, Industrial Waterworld and Water & Wastewater International. Water Tech Online North American Society of Trenchless Technology Insider and Pipeline Newsletter If you would like a link to your newsletter posted in McElroy Connections, contact Drew L. Wilson at 918-831-9286 or McElroy Connections welcomes your feedback, story ideas, tips, or anything else related to PE Pipe and Pipe fusion. Please email your comments and story ideas to: FOR NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe, visit http://www.mcelroy.com/fusion/forms/newsletter.htm McElroy Connections is published by McElroy Manufacturing Inc. The information contained within each issue is meant as a service to our customers, distributors, and those involved with Polyethylene Pipe applications.
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