Page 22 - Jan-Feb 2021 Vol 38 No 6
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VIRTUAL CONFERENCE: TECHNICAL SESSION RECAP By Josh Paz, Bubba Greer & Alan Childers
Drought Proof | Future Proof |
Congestion Proof
Water and Climate Variability by Josh Paz water is treated for public consumption. while the infrastructure that you manage
Incorporating re-use into a water supply will benefit even more. ATMS and traffic
The U.S. water availability is as diverse as services, operational data for water
the people who live here. Some locations, portfolio is one way to guarantee your and sewer systems, treatment facilities,
such as the South and East Coasts, are system is “drought proof.” No matter what power safety and service monitoring are
considered to be “water rich,” whereas future weather patterns may look like, dependent upon reliable and real-time
locations in the West are generally considered utilizing a water source that is not directly information sharing.
to be “water poor.” Even in “water rich” areas, tied to rainfall will provide for a long-term
it’s important to understand that water is not resilient water source that can be used Advanced fiber optic networks are
always in the right place at the right time. when needed. replacing costly and outdated systems such
as SCADA, and creating more nimble and
For example, in 2007, all 100 counties Only one thing is guaranteed to stay inclusive networks that can handle more
in North Carolina experienced drought the same: CHANGE. Climate variability than simple monitoring.
conditions much like other locations across is creating a shift in our outlook on water
the country. What happened to being water availability and planning for the future. In today’s world, information is a part of
rich? This extreme condition of drought is When the time comes for the next drought, everything we do. How well you manage
just another example of climate variability will you be ready? that information and evolve your fiber
that seems to be occurring more regularly optic network will determine how well you
today than it has in the past. This situation Eye to the Future: Information are prepared for the future.
is not just across the U.S., but across much Management by Bubba Greer
of the globe. The days of depending solely Traffic Control Options by Alan Childers
on historical water sources for drinking With the evolution of the internet of
water are long gone. things, the emergence of information Traffic congestion is no fun for
sharing and the world’s reliance on data anyone! Solutions to relieve congestion
The uncertainty of climate variability (due transmittal is contingent on the evolution historically have involved large scale and
to recent droughts) has led to a nationwide and limitations of your existing fiber expensive projects requiring the addition
effort to increase system flexibility and infrastructure. of traffic lanes, and even grade separated
resiliency of water resources. Many of the interchanges. While these solutions are
water sources used across Tennessee are Data transmission and information appropriate in many cases, sometimes
dependent on our amount of rainfall. management has exploded on to the individual intersections are the problem.
scene, becoming the next essential utility.
In addition, most municipalities only Its importance is climbing at the very In these situations, large scale projects
rely on a single source of raw water. During speed at which it works, the speed of often are not financially feasible, or the
severe droughts, these normally-reliable light. Local municipalities and Public necessary rights-of-way not available.
water sources can be stretched thin, often Works departments are just as reliant on Traffic signals have been used in many
leading municipalities to either place information sharing as any local service cases to relieve intersection congestion,
restrictions on water usage, or to depend provider, university or large business. but these often require the construction of
on interconnections with others for expensive turn lanes and can cause other
additional water. The ability to respond at a moment’s issues such as rear-end traffic crashes.
notice, with assured reliability, drives the
Both options just create more stress for the need for “point-to-point” and distribution In recent years, roundabouts have been
Public Works department during an already- fiber networks capable of handling both gaining popularity as a solution, and
challenging time for providing clean water to current and future information needs (as though not the panacea for all intersection
the public. For these reasons, municipalities well as developments of the ever-changing congestion, they can be very effective
are looking to other alternatives for securing and always accelerating information under a variety of conditions.
water availability well into the future. sharing world.)
The benefits of roundabouts can be
As a Public Works employee, you Future proofing your infrastructure shown through a suburban Knox County
probably have heard the word “re-use” when isn’t a term for 5G or ISP’s that are driving case study, at the intersection of Northshore
discussing water treatment and availability. Broadband service for gamers at home, or Drive and Choto Road. Previously, side
That’s because there has been a shift across better cell service. This isn’t relegated to the street delays and traffic queues were
the U.S. to incorporate treated effluent from need for Google Maps or online shopping. becoming intolerable, with traffic crashes
wastewater reclamation facilities, as part of Given today’s social and economic realities, becoming more serious and numerous.
the public water supply portfolio. the way you handle your information is
directly linked to how your organization This roundabout virtually eliminated all
This is either done directly by hard interacts with your customers and the world. those problems. Instead of being a source
piping the treated effluent to the drinking Accessibility for those who rely upon your of citizen complaints and consternation,
water facility for additional treatment, or services is paramount to staying relevant. this intersection now is a shining example
by indirectly using an environmental buffer of what can be accomplished through a
such as a lake, river or groundwater before Systemwide design towards the future little creativity, focused action, and the
22 TPW January/February 2021 greatly enhances consumers’ experiences, cooperation of the public.
