John Hennessy III,
P.E.
If you look around, civil engineering is everywhere! Meet three civil engineers whose work is having a real impact on people’s lives. Whether involved in projects underground, on huge structures or meeting the water needs of developing communities, these engineers are making a difference. See if you have what it takes to be a civil engineer.
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BLACK & VEATCH INSIGHTS GROUP
U.S. water service providers are uniquely accustomed to changing conditions. But rarely have so many competing pressures tested the industry as they do in 2015. Strained capital budgets, aging equipment and distribution systems, social pressures around sustainability and water scarcity are further impacting a sector that is already in the midst of a decade-long business model transformation. These pressures are also rewriting the rules for utilities that have been forced to prioritize “need to have” infrastructure investments at the expense of investments in their future.
UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
From our assessment, we conclude there are above and below ground mechanisms by which hydraulic fracturing activities have the potential to impact drinking water resources. These mechanisms include water withdrawals in times of, or in areas with, low water availability; spills of hydraulic fracturing fluids and produced water; fracturing directly into underground drinking water resources; below ground migration of liquids and gases; and inadequate treatment and discharge of wastewater.
UCLA LUSKIN CENTER FOR INNOVATION
Despite the essential role water plays in Los Angeles County, surprisingly little is known about our community water systems. Community water systems are the fundamental building blocks of California’s water supply network. These systems are responsible for providing households, businesses, and governments with a reliable supply of clean water at a reasonable price. They are on the front lines of adapting to drought and climate change. They manage lifeline programs for the County’s many low-income households. These systems are the portals through which federal, state, and regional officials implement water policies supporting water supply reliability, conservation, efficiency, affordability, environmental protection, and public health.
VALUE OF WATER COALITION
This briefing paper, issued by the Value of Water Coalition, spotlights innovative solutions to the nation’s growing water challenges. Through capital investments, technological innovations, creative financing tools, and cross-sector partnerships, water leaders are building stronger communities and a stronger America.
The impact of climate change is going to play itself out in the water arena says Brookings Senior Fellow Pat Mulroy, former general manager of the Southern Nevada Water Authority. She discusses the crisis Southern Nevada faced during one of the worst droughts in the history of the Colorado River.
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This video features Michael Byrd, Executive Director of the Prescott Creeks Preservation Association, describing some of the challenges faced by Granite Creek Watershed communities (e.g. perennial water flow, drinking water source, and water quality issues) and how the organization uses conservation, restoration, and education to address these challenges.
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CA FWD: CALIFORNIA FORWARD
There is no limit to the challenges on the horizon. In the next 30 years, California’s population is expected to grow to 50 million people—the equivalent of adding another city of Los Angeles and San Diego. As income inequality expands, new approaches must be developed to prepare this next generation of Californians to contribute to an ever-changing global economy. With the climate changing, natural resources must be managed more responsibly. Bigger cities need less traffic. Communities need more reliable sources of water. Regions need new avenues to global trade.
From a relocatable antarctic research station to drought solutions in Texas, the 2015 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Awards showcased a variety of novel approaches to vital engineering problems. The following videos from ASCE detail this year’s winner and four other finalists.
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The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has assembled a new resource to help plug the holes in our nation’s aging water infrastructure. According to the NRDC, “billions of gallons of water are lost every day from U.S. drinking water systems.” With climate change and demand patterns affecting water resources throughout the U.S., we need to do whatever it takes to monitor and prevent leakage system wide.
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