April 19, 2012

Sustainable Infrastructure E-Newsletter
April Issue

For this month’s newsletter we are providing some late-breaking news on the water utility front. Of particular interest to public officials and industry representatives alike is a report by the Competitive Enterprise Institute, authored by Bonner R. Cohen, Ph.D., Senior Fellow with the National Centre for Public Policy Research in Washington, D.C. We hope you find this as well as the other news items informative.
 

Report Cites Corrosion and Lack of Open Bidding for Piping as Major Problems in U.S. Water Utility Sector
	A report by the Competitive Enterprise Institute entitled, Fixing America’s Crumbling Underground Water Infrastructure: Competitive Bidding Offers a Way Out, underscores how increased competition would help reduce the costs associated with upgrading the nation’s deteriorating water and sewer systems. “The task at hand,” notes the report, is to find the “most efficient and cost-effective solutions” available.  The problems afflicting today’s underground piping systems stem from deteriorating, corrosion-prone metallic pipes. The easiest way for cash-strapped municipalities to better manage their physical assets is to open up bidding processes under the principle of “may the best technology win.”  This will ensure that all materials get the consideration they deserve and immeasurably improve the quality of America’s underground water infrastructure in a cost-effective fashion. Click here to read report.
About the author:  Bonner R. Cohen, Ph.D., is a Senior Fellow with the National Centre for Public Policy Research in Washington, D.C. Articles by Dr. Cohen have appeared in Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, Investor’s Business Daily, Philadelphia Inquirer, Miami Herald, Detroit News, Washington Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, San Diego Mercury, Cincinnati Inquirer, and dozens of other newspapers and periodicals around the country. He has been interviewed on Fox News, NPR, BBC, CNN, NBC, Fox Business Channel, CBC, BBC Worldwide Television and scores of radio stations throughout the U.S.

PVC Pipe Association Addresses U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council on Need to Modernize Local Procurement of Underground Assets

Press Release
Washington, D.C., April 18 – PVC Pipe Association Executive Director Bruce Hollands urged the nation’s mayors last week to put an end to closed bidding practices that exclude corrosion-proof piping materials from being used in water and wastewater systems. “Building and replacing water and sewage lines will cost upwards of $1.1 trillion over the next twenty years.  This will place tremendous strain on cash-strapped local governments so it only makes sense to utilize the most efficient procurement methods and cost-effective technologies possible,” said Hollands. Mr. Hollands made these comments during a presentation to the U.S. Conference of Mayors Water Council on April 12^th in Indianapolis, IN.  Click here to read press release.


Sustainable Solutions for Water Infrastructure Without Soaking Taxpayers

The water and wastewater problem is one of monumental scope. Each year, more than 300,000 water main breaks occur throughout North America – or some 850 every day – mainly as a result of the continued use of corrosion-prone iron piping in the nation’s water systems.  Moreover, according to a congressional study, corrosion costs U.S. drinking water and wastewater systems over $50.7 billion annually, or more than $1 trillion dollars over the next twenty years. Throwing good money after suboptimal solutions isn’t the right choice for lawmakers. Why replace iron with iron, when our civilization has progressed to corrosion resistant materials?  Click here to read article.

Best regards,