In the Spotlight
Aging of Water Mains is Becoming Hard to Ignore
New York Times
By MICHAEL COOPER
Published: April 17, 2009
CHELAN, Wash. — It has been 2,000 years since the Romans built their aqueducts, and 200 years since Philadelphia began using cast-iron water mains. But the 6-inch-wide city pipe that still delivers drinking water to a block on Nixon Street here uses an even more primitive technology: wood.
EDITORIAL: Water, Water: Baltimore Needs More National Help to Rebuild Its Aging Water Systems and Avoid Future Deterioration and Leaks
Source: The Baltimore Sun, Maryland
Publication date: 2009-04-30
Flushing government stimulus cash down the toilet?
By MICHAEL TARM, Associated Press Writer Michael Tarm, Associated Press Writer
CARBON HILL, Ill. – Sewage from toilets flows in open ditches here, spilling into back yards and even onto the lone baseball diamond where children play after school. The nose-wrinkling stench carries throughout this century-old, one-diner village outside Chicago.
U.S. infrastructure is deplored
Engineers' appraisal fuels Senate hunt for more funding
Thursday, March 26, 2009
By Jon Schmitz, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The nation has gone backward in the last four years from an already sorry performance in maintaining vital infrastructure, a national engineers group reported yesterday.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus package is a start toward rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure. However, the story of infrastructure goes beyond this one act and requires an educated and supportive public to maintain high quality U.S. water standards. Water and wastewater utilities must be proactive in communicating with their publics about infrastructure needs and investment. Click on the “toolkit” to view WEF’s line of compelling slogans and eye-catching graphics for bill stuffers, door hangers and ads. They’re free, downloadable and customizable.
Liquid Assets The Story of Water Infrastructure is a 90 minute program that reveals the crumbling state of our nation’s essential water infrastructure. Produced by Penn State Public Broadcasting, it has been airing on PBS stations nationwide since its debut October 1. Now, in order to expand viewership of this award winning $1 million documentary local government and education cable stations will also be granted rights to televise the program. Water and wastewater utilities may find this an opportunity to add local programming that explains your community’s infrastructure situation. For more information, contact lloken@wef.org or call 703-684-2487.
Liquid Assets can also be useful in the 6-12 classroom with educational units complementing video segments on wastewater, sustainable water use, public health, watersheds, a water system, and community participation. Visit http://liquidassets.psu.edu/outreach/education.html.