In the wake of the Flint disaster, Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder ordered a comprehensive review of state and local water infrastructure issues. His 21st Century Infrastructure Commission Report shows that painful lessons have been learned. “Many government procurement specifications and policies do not include mechanisms to evaluate and utilize new technologies or alternative materials that provide cost savings and enhance environmental outcomes.” the report says. Michigan’s Department of Environmental Quality, municipalities, and utilities “should put in place a process to periodically review and update new technologies, procurement manuals or standard operating practices to allow for open competition for technology and materials meeting relevant standards…” Michigan cities plagued by corroded underground iron pipes are getting the message and opening up their specifications to alternative materials. A state bill promoting open competition for piping used in water and sewer projects is also being considered.

Click here for Dr. Bonner Cohen’s recent article in Municipal Leader, “Winning the Battle Against Iron-Pipe Corrosion in the Shadow of Flint.”

Breaking Barriers for PVC Pipes: A Conversation With Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association Executive Director Bruce Hollands

Every day, municipalities across the country are replacing corroded iron pipe networks with safer, corrosion-proof, sustainable PVC pipe. PVC pipe is the only water pipe in North America with an Environmental Product Declaration certified by global health organization NSF International… PVC pipes used in Indianapolis have a failure rate 2.5 times less than traditional pipe materials, and this has realized significant cost savings for ratepayers.

Numerous studies confirm that PVC pipe has a lifespan in excess of 100 years, and a report from Utah State University’s Buried Structures Laboratory shows that PVC water pipe has the lowest water main break rate of all materials. Open procurement is key to solving America’s underground infrastructure crisis because the overall capital costs of projects also decrease when PVC is allowed to compete against iron-pipe-only bids.

Click here to read article in Municipal Leader by Bruce Hollands, Executive Director of the PVC Pipe Association.

Michigan: An Example for Trump’s Infrastructure Plan

The Trump administration may not have its infrastructure plan in place yet, but the State of Michigan is pulling out all the stops to figure out how to repair, replace and redesign their water and wastewater systems as sustainable infrastructure systems while balancing the economic, societal and environmental costs and risks to citizens.

On March 15, the Senate Committee on Michigan Competitiveness heard testimony on SB 157, legislation that would require open competition for water and sewer underground infrastructure projects at the local level when state funding is requested. Michigan’s SB 157 seeks to remove the obstacles of decades old and outdated procurement practices that prevent professional water and sewer engineers from recommending innovative and sustainable solutions to local governments and their utilities. Many times, even developers and home building associations striving to increase economic development are restricted to high cost materials through outdated procurement practices set in place by local ordinances.

Click here to read article in Water Finance and Management by Gregory M. Baird.

State Open Competition Laws Have Potential To Free Up Billions For Infrastructure Needs

Arkansas Senate President Jim Hendren has introduced pro-taxpayer legislation in his state, Senate Bill 332, that would open competition for water infrastructure projects by permitting the use of all piping materials that meet performance specifications. Other states - such as South Carolina, Ohio, and Michigan - have also introduced open competition legislation to preempt protectionist local restrictions on piping materials. These are smart, free market reforms that will improve the quality of new water and wastewater infrastructure projects, while reducing taxpayer costs.

Click here to read article in Forbes by Patrick Gleason, Director of State Affairs at Americans for Tax Reform. Mr. Gleason has been published in The Economist, Reuters, Politico, and the Wall Street Journal, among others.

How Some Cities Create Their Own Drinking Water Problems

Water industry expert Dr. Bonner R. Cohen, author of “Fixing America’s Crumbling Underground Water Infrastructure,” has written extensively on the issues facing municipal water systems. Providing the public with safe drinking water requires an infrastructure containing the finest materials available. Cities that pretend otherwise are headed down the road to Flint. In this article Dr. Cohen explores the persistent dangers and high costs of iron piping systems and the correlation between lead and pathogens in water and municipalities that exclusively use iron pipes.

Click here for article in The Daily Caller by water industry expert Dr. Bonner Cohen.

Regards,

Bruce Hollands
Executive Director | Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association
2711 LBJ Freeway, Suite 1000 | Dallas, TX 75234
T. 972.243.3902 ext. 1019 | F. 972.243.3907
www.uni-bell.org