|
Industry Perspective: |
|
Our Spring report
listed the following water utility manager challenges:
-
Regulation compliance
-
Personnel managing and hiring
-
Water system security
-
Adequate water supply
-
Adequate water quality
-
Customer satisfaction and confidence
-
Capital improvement funding
-
Business factors
-
Water storage and distribution
-
The political climate
|
In addition to the regulatory
matters previously reported, critical water industry challenges include cost,
storage and distribution, supply and security. These were the most emphasized
items identified in AWWA's "State of the Industry" Survey (garnering more than
1,700 responses throughout the water community).
Business
Factors
The survey qualified
aggregate water management costs as "business factors,"
questioning how communities will finance infrastructure upgrades,
regulatory necessities, security improvements and water supply
issues and related costs. Particularly concerning is the
timing of these considerations - when federal assistance is limited
and utilities are dependant on rates and other local funding
mechanisms to meet rising prices.
Water
Storage and Distribution
Storage and
distribution are closely related to “business factors,” since much
of the financing concerns in the industry are associated with
infrastructure repair and
replacement. In response, many utilities are employing
forward-looking asset management strategies that will help prevent a
future infrastructure crisis.
Future Water Supply
Another increasing
concern throughout the water community is source water supply. The
overarching issue is the lack of
sustainable water resources, particularly in arid and semi-arid
climates. Groundwater sources are being depleted in some places, and
droughts have magnified the limitations of surface water. A growing
number of utilities are looking seriously at water reuse for
non-drinking purposes like irrigation and industrial uses. In fact,
there is an association devoted strictly to this mission.
Others are employing
desalination technology. This is being applied in both coastal
communities with ocean access and further inland where brackish
water resides in underground formations.
Water Security
The industry still
views security as an important issue. As improvements have been
accomplished, priorities have shifted to other pent-up matters.
Vulnerability assessments following 9-11 are either completed or are
nearing completion. However, this topic is still mentioned in
the top five emphasis items, indicating some lingering concerns over
costs and implementation.
Visit
papers/presentations to learn more
about our firm's related water security initiatives.
