Design-Build Method Key to Implementing President Obama's Commitment to Water Infrastructure.-- 7 million Americans sickened annually by contaminated contaminated, v 1. made radioactive by the addition of small quantities of radioactive material. 2. made contaminated by adding infective or radiographic materials. 3. an infective surface or object. water; Systems deteriorating rapidly as many city pipes age beyond life expectancy Life Expectancy 1. The age until which a person is expected to live. 2. The remaining number of years an individual is expected to live, based on IRS issued life expectancy tables. -- WASHINGTON -- President Obama's plan to launch more than 2,600 wastewater, drinking water drinking water supply of water available to animals for drinking supplied via nipples, in troughs, dams, ponds and larger natural water sources; an insufficient supply leads to dehydration; it can be the source of infection, e.g. leptospirosis, salmonellosis, or of poisoning, e.g. and sewer system Noun 1. sewer system - facility consisting of a system of sewers for carrying off liquid and solid sewage sewage system, sewage works facility, installation - a building or place that provides a particular service or is used for a particular industry; "the projects as part of his administration's American Reinvestment and Recovery Plan is an important step in addressing the country's serious water issues, today said the nonprofit Water Design- Build Council. "President Obama and Congressional leaders recognize the urgent need to invest in modernizing America's water system," said Peter W. Tunnicliffe, president of the Water Design-Build Council. "Our water systems are deteriorating rapidly. Water main breaks, sewage spills, aging water pipes, and outdated treatment facilities have created serious public health and safety issues in communities across America." Scientists estimate that more than 7 million people become ill each year from contaminated water, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the Natural Resources Defense Council The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is a New York City-based, non-profit non-partisan international environmental advocacy group, with offices in Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Beijing. Founded in 1970, NRDC today has 1. . The country's over-burdened and antiquated water infrastructure creates sustainability issues, too. According to the Congressional Budget Office The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is responsible for economic forecasting and fiscal policy analysis, scorekeeeping, cost projections, and an Annual Report on the Federal Budget. The office also underdakes special budget-related studies at the request of Congress. , more than 20 percent of drinking water is lost and 1.2 trillion gallons of storm water and wastewater overflow every year due to leaks and breaks in the 800,000 miles of water pipe and 600,000 miles of sewer lines in the U.S. Although President Obama has called for 2,680 water and wastewater infrastructure Water and wastewater infrastructure is a generic term to describe public works, piping and plant facilities that treat and distribute drinking water taken from the environment and deliver it for use to a community and also the cycle that manages and treats the wastewater that come projects with an investment of $15 billion, the U.S. Conference of Mayors has identified 4,029 "shovel ready" projects that could create more than 271,000 jobs in 2009 and 2010 for an investment of $23.4 billion. In addition, the vast majority of equipment and supplies for water projects are made in the U.S., further increasing the immediate economic benefits of these investments. "Design-build is the most effective project delivery method for getting these water projects started and completed quickly," said Tunnicliffe. With the design-build method, one firm assumes responsibility for design, construction and commissioning. He said that design-build delivery is continuing to grow and now represents about 20-30 percent of all U.S. water and wastewater projects. "Those projects have been easier to manage, faster to implement and often lower in cost than projects using the more traditional design-bid-build approach." Tunnicliffe said that in recent years legislation has increased the number of water agencies authorized to implement design-build projects. Examples of leading communities that have recently started or completed design-build projects include Cape Coral, Fla.; Carson, Calif.; Detroit, Mich.; Erie, Colo.; Fort Myers, Fla.; Goodyear, Ariz.; Lawrence, Mass.; Seattle, Wash.; and Valdosta, Ga. In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses the design-build approach for many of its key projects. Water infrastructure investment is expected to be a significant priority for many years. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), independent agency of the U.S. government, with headquarters in Washington, D.C. It was established in 1970 to reduce and control air and water pollution, noise pollution, and radiation and to ensure the safe handling and (EPA EPA eicosapentaenoic acid. EPA abbr. eicosapentaenoic acid EPA, n.pr See acid, eicosapentaenoic. EPA, n. ), the Government Accountability Office The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is the audit, evaluation, and investigative arm of the United States Congress, and thus an agency in the Legislative Branch of the United States Government. (GAO), and the Water Infrastructure Network (WIN) estimate a $300-$500 billion funding gap over 20 years between what is needed to upgrade and repair the nation's wastewater infrastructure and what is being spent. About the Water Design-Build Council The Water Design-Build Council is a not-for-profit organization seeking to advance the development and rehabilitation of the nation's municipal water and wastewater systems through the use of the design-build method of project delivery. This process integrates both the design and construction phases to optimize innovation, speed, quality control, and single-point accountability. The WDBC's mission is to promote the best design-build practices to facilitate productive and collaborative relationships between service providers and local governments. For more information about the Water Design-Build Council, please visit www.waterdesignbuild.org. |
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