note from the editor - mcelroy...nebraska court battle over republican river tax set to begin...
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February Issue Post Date 02/15/08 www.mcelroy.comCONTENTS
Drew L. Wilson Editor
McElroy In The NewsNew Catalog andMore
Gas Industry NewsPipelineConstruction
EPA ReportInfrastructure Needs
Stimulus BillClean Water TrustFund
Oil of the 21 stCentury Water Wars
Newsletter Links Links
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Note From The EditorGreetings Discerning Readers,
Dave Dutton looks up from his Tulsa World Newspaper and proclaims, “The city of Tulsa is brilliant!” And he means it. Dutton, an engineer with a 38year history with McElroy, is overjoyed after reading the much anticipated article about the city finally using polyethylene pipe in its water system.
Dutton has been a point man trying to make this happen for longer than he can remember. Heknows how difficult it can be to encourage engineers to change their attitudes and preferences for piping materials, and he has become accustomed to resistance. Back in the early 1970’s, Dutton was very much involved in the missionary work that brought the benefits of PE to the gas industry. He knows from practice, that now that Tulsa has used the pipe, they will realize what so many othercities have learned – that HDPE pipe offers economic and environmental advantages that are simplyunmatched.
“It’s been a long time coming, but that is the way most municipalities work,” said Dutton. “Tulsa in
particular, has a long record of civil engineering excellence and they aren’t about to put theirreputation on the line for something that is not a proven solution. They’ve done their homework, andnow that they have hands on experience with HDPE, our hope is that it will be allowed on the bid forupcoming projects.”
Apparently it will be. City engineer Anthony Wilkins was quoted in the above mentioned article,saying that HDPE will be used in future water jobs but added an analogy at the end of the articleabout Tulsa being a big ship that can be slow to turn.
One of the reasons Tulsa chose to try the pipe is that its system suffers from leaks and failures typicalto many cities across the country. From July 2000through June 2001, the city of Tulsa processed andpumped 39.6 billion gallons of potable water to itscitizens and businesses. In the same time period,they billed consumers for only 34 billion gallons ofthis water. The 5.6 billion gallons of unaccounted forwater is approximately a 14% loss and below thenational average. The amount of water thatdisappeared from the city’s piping infrastructurebefore it passed through the meter, has a marketvalue of $10.4 million. This astounding figure is justa portion of the allencompassing expense, not tomention health risks, associated with having a leakywater system.
Already, water mains break an average of 1288 times a year in Tulsa. As the system continues toage, this number can only grow. Christmas Day alone in 2000, the city reported 51 breaks. Thisexpense is overwhelming when one considers the amount of manpower and equipment it takes tofirst find a leak, excavate the ground, repair the line, repair the street or lawn and settle the propertydamage liabilities. The excavation alone for a repair under a roadway ranges between $2500 and$5000. One can only estimate that expenses for leak repairs are in the millions.
“This pilot project for the city of Tulsa is a catalyst that will bring HDPE into our system in a big way,”said Dutton. “Once polyethylene is tried, it is hard to argue with its benefits.”
To see a short video about the project, click here.
Drew L. Wilson; [email protected] (918) 8319286
McElroy In The NewsStill growing after all these yearsMcElroy is now a significant contributor for Water Online which is the leading online resource forengineers and endusers in the water, wastewater, and storm water markets, serving the needs ofengineering professionals since 1995.
This is a tremendous resource for customers looking for information about the water industry. Click here to read more
Gas Industry NewsUnprecedented demand for natural gas is helping fuel pipeline construction worldwide. This isreflected in Pipeline & Gas Journals latest worldwide survey figures that indicate 144,096 miles ofoil and gas pipelines are under construction and planned. Of these, North American companies areplanning, designing and building 46,072 miles of pipelines. Click here to read more
EPA Reports On Clean Water Infrastructure NeedsWashington, D.C. – A new report from the EPA estimates $202.5 billion is the nationwide capitalinvestment needed to control wastewater pollution for up to a 20year period. Click here to read more
Stimulus Bill Moving QuicklyThree congressional democrats have commissioned a report by the Government AccountabilityOffice (GAO) to study ways to finance a clean water trust fund. Thus far, the lack of a dedicatedrevenue source has stalled supporters of a trust fund from moving such legislation. The study isslated to be completed by January 15, 2009. Click here to read more
Oil of the 21st CenturyWatersaving rules for new homes in Albuquerque areaALBUQUERQUE New homes built in most of Albuquerque and Bernalillo County will be requiredto have rainwater collection systems under new watersaving standards.Click here to read the entire story!
SRP blocks plans by Yavapai County communities to use river waterPHOENIX Three Yavapai County communities have agreed to consider changes to their plans toimport groundwater from a regional aquifer in order to protect the Verde River.Click here to read the entire story!
Idaho, Washington announce modeling system for aquiferCOEUR D'ALENE, Idaho Officials with Idaho and Washington have announced an agreement fora $3.5 million modeling system to chart the effect of taking water from the...Click here to read the entire story!
Nebraska court battle over Republican River tax set to beginLINCOLN, Neb. A trial with millions of dollars and compliance with the Republican River compactat stake was scheduled to begin in Lancaster County District Court. A ruling...Click here to read the entire story!
UN chief urges world to put looming water crisis at top of global agendaDAVOS, Switzerland U.N. SecretaryGeneral Ban Kimoon urged the world recently to put thelooming crisis over water shortages at the top of the global agenda this year and... Click here to read the entire story!
LinksPlastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) Founded in 1950, The Plastics Pipe Institute Inc. (PPI) is the major trade association representing allsegments of the plastics piping industry. PPI members share a common interest in broadeningmarket opportunities that make effective use of plastics piping for water and gas distribution, sewerand wastewater, oil and gas production, industrial and mining uses, power and communications,duct and irrigation. http://www.plasticpipe.org/index01.php
North American Society for Trenchless TechnologyThe North American Society for Trenchless Technology is a multiple disciplinary society ofindividuals and organizations with professional, utilitarian or environmental interests in TrenchlessTechnology. It was founded and incorporated as a nonprofit organization in June 1990.
http://www.nastt.org/
American Water Works Association Established in 1881, AWWA is the oldest and largest nonprofit scientific and educationalorganization dedicated to safe drinking water in North America . AWWA has more than 57,000members worldwide and its 4,700 utility members serve 80 percent of America 's population. http://www.awwa.org
American Society of Civil Engineers FoundationAssists ASCE with resource development and the enhancement of its programs through thephilanthropy of its membership and the wider public.http://www.asce.org/foundation/
Newsletter LinksU.S. Water News Receive the latest water & wastewater news every week! FREE industry subscription to eWater News Weekly! http://www.ewaternewsweekly.com/
Water World Receive news from WaterWorld, Industrial Waterworld and Water & WastewaterInternational. http://www.omeda.com/cgiwin/wwr.cgi?NEWSLETTER
Water Tech Onlinehttp://www.watertechonline.com/index.asp
North American Society of Trenchless Technologyhttp://www.nastt.org/newsletter.html
Insider and Pipeline Newsletterhttp://www.plasticpipe.org/whatsnew/industnews04_2.php
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McElroy Connections is published by McElroy Manufacturing Inc. The information contained withineach issue is meant as a service to our customers, distributors, and those involved with PolyethylenePipe applications.