Editor’s Note: Funding available for seekers

Funding available for seekers

Sarah Wright | Editor

“Stronger together” was the theme for National Public Works Week this past May. It highlighted the critical roles of public works employees in keeping communities running. This task isn’t getting easier as the age of the U.S.’s infrastructure rears its head. This fact has been on city radars for years, with perennial potholes always catching notice and the Flint, Mich., water crisis shining a light on infrastructure hidden under our feet. However, knowledge doesn’t overcome the financial ability to tackle needed projects, particularly as the current global pandemic has driven up prices for most infrastructure and building projects.

Many of the municipalities within this issue pursued creative funding solutions at local, state and federal levels to realize the completion of needed infrastructure improvements. Newark, N.J.’s, lead line replacement program, which is featured in this issue, is a prime example of securing multiple funding sources to not only complete but also to accelerate a project for the benefit of residents. As of press time, the city has replaced 19,000 lead service lines out of 24,000. Newark has received calls around the globe about how it was able to accelerate its replacement of water lines, and writer Denise Fedorow is sharing the city’s process and some of the challenges it faced during the endeavor. She’s also spotlighting Nappanee, Ind.’s, proactive line replacement efforts, which are utilizing the State Revolving Fund.

Future drinking water reserves are on the minds of officials in Provo, Utah, which has launched the Provo Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project to search for viable surface water sources and ways to move water to aquifers for future use. Partially funded by the city of Provo, the rest of the funding comes from a combination of cost-sharing among the Utah Board of Water Resources, a loan from the Drinking Water Board and a WaterSMART grant. Writer Janet Patterson will be expounding more on this intensive undertaking.

Writer Dani Messick will highlight the renovation of Reston, Va.’s, Terry L. Smith Aquatics Center, for which Fairfax County Department of Public Works and Environmental Services was honored by the American Public Works Association Mid-Atlantic Region. Working with a set of double doors, the end results are truly remarkable. The fact public art was included on the front end of the project is also evident.

The need for workers to step into key positions within public works is also addressed in this issue, with Janet Patterson speaking with Denison, Iowa, which recently had to fill two vital positions within its public works department.

Finally, Amanda Demster connected with Hot Springs, Ark., to learn its strategy when faced with the 2021 winter snowstorm, which grounded much of the South to a halt. Despite the unnatural cold and snowfall, Hot Springs kept its water flowing with a sizable amount of teamwork and a timely investment in smart water meters.

Thank you, public works employees, for the many and varied tasks you all perform year-round. From roadwork and ensuring essential services continue even in the most challenging conditions to liberating critters from storm drains, you keep us all going.