Water Matters: A Review of Current Drinking Water Trends and Issues From the American Water Works Association 4/21/2003
From: Andrew Hudson, 303-734-3410 or ahudson@awwa.org; Sabrina McKenzie, 303-347-6140 or smckenzie@awwa.org; both of the American Water Works Association DENVER, April 21 -- Established in 1881, AWWA is the authoritative resource for knowledge, information and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of drinking water in North America and beyond. Representing more than 56,000 members worldwide AWWA is the largest organization of water professionals in the world. Its 4,500 utility members serve 80 percent of America's population. AWWA advances public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of the drinking water community. Through our collective strength we become better stewards of water for the greatest good of the people and the environment. For more information on AWWA, go to http://www.awwa.org. For interview requests, expert sources or additional background information on these or any other drinking water related issue, please contact the AWWA Public Affairs Office at (303)734-3410 or (303)347-6140. -- Water utility officials to gather in Washington next week -- The American Water Works Association (AWWA) is hosting 78 local water utility officials from around the country in Washington, D.C. April 30-May 1. The officials are scheduled to meet with members of Congress and federal agencies on a variety of critical policy and funding issues impacting the nation's water utilities. "Everyday, this country's water utility officials have the enormous responsibility of delivering safe, clean and secure water to citizens throughout the nation," comments Jack Hoffbuhr, Executive Director of AWWA. "It is vital they have the opportunity to inform members of Congress of the critical legislative issues relating to the funding, security and regulation of drinking water," Beginning April 30, utility representatives from across the nation will begin meeting with members of Congress and EPA officials to discuss pressing issues including water security, infrastructure, and the Chemical Security Act. The utility leaders will help to provide context on how federal issues impact our country's local water utilities. For the entire Washington fly-in agenda visit http://www.awwa.org/Advocacy/pressroom/pr/ For more information or interview requests, contact Andrew Hudson at ahudson@awwa.org or Tom Curtis at (202)628-8303. -- Water Utility Infrastructure gap: $535 billion over next 20 years -- According to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) analysis, there is a $535 billion gap between current spending and projected needs for water and wastewater infrastructure projects over the next 20 years, not including the new federally mandated security upgrades at water utilities across America. AWWA research has determined the cost of immediate security upgrades for public water systems is approximately $1.6 billion. This does not include future capital costs of additional upgrades identified in the vulnerability assessments. The importance of safe drinking water to public health and the nation 's economic welfare is undisputed. However, as we enter the 21st Century, water utilities face significant economic challenges. For the first time, in many of these utilities a significant amount of buried infrastructure -the underground pipes that make safe water available at the turn of a tap -is at or very near the end of its expected life span. The pipes laid down at different times in our history have different life expectancies, and thousands of miles of pipes that were buried over 100 or more years ago will need to be replaced in the next 30 years. The American Water Works Association recently released a detailed study analysis of twenty utilities' needs for repairs and replacement of drinking water infrastructure. For a copy of this report go to http://www.win-water.org/win_reports/infrastructure.pdf or email Andrew Hudson at ahudson@awwa.org. -- Desalination - cities looking to the sea for drinking water -- Water, viewed by many as "the oil of the 21st century," has become a high priority as many cities and nations around the world experience more frequent and, often critical, water shortages. Shrinking supplies, droughts, and population trends are driving the desalination movement. Desalting techniques have increased the range of water resources available for use by a community. Desalination is the treatment of water (fresh water, brackish water, seawater, or wastewater) to remove dissolved mineral salts and other dissolved solids by means of various water purification processes. Throughout history, people have continually tried to treat salty water so that it could be used for drinking and agriculture. Of all the globe 's water, 94 percent is salt water from the oceans and 6 percent is fresh. -- In 1960, there were 5 desalination plants. -- Today there are more than 12,500 desalination plants. -- More than 120 countries augment their freshwater supplies with desalinated water. -- About $10 billion has been earmarked for desalination projects worldwide in the next 5 years. -- The desalinated market is forecast to grow to more than $70 billion in the next 20 years. Desalination proponents say the dramatic decrease in the cost of desalination treatment, the population explosion, and decreased rainfall is helping to boost the industry substantially. A variety of public-private partnerships are expected to help utilities spread the financial burden. More information and examples of desalination projects, go to: http://www.awwa.org/Advocacy/pressroom/Desalination.cfm -- Water Utility Workers prepping for World Water Cup of Drilling & Tapping -- Water Utility workers from throughout North America are training for the 18th annual water tapping contest to be held at the AWWA Annual Conference and Exhibition this June 15-19, 2003. The AWWA National Tapping Contest is a competition of skill in which water operators from across the US work against the clock to open a cement-lined, ductile iron pipe and install a tap. The contests begin at the local level and the winners are then eligible to compete in the national Tapping Contest. There are two divisions, Men's and Women's. The national record is 1:95.00 set by the San Antonio, Texas team in 1994. This year, in addition to the national competition, AWWA is hosting the World Water Cup of Drilling in which water workers from throughout the globe compete to become the world's fastest tapper. Regional contests and local training for the annual event are currently happening in cities throughout America. For more information on the water tapping competition, a list of competitors and to visit the water tapping hall of fame, go to http://www.awwa.org/conferences/contests/tapping/index.cfm The Oregonian newspaper recently profiled local water tapping teams. Read the whole story at: http://www.oregonlive.com/metroeast/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro _east_news/1050667132318261.xml |