Years Gone By

Mary Beth Nevulis

When one thinks back to 2005, it feels like far more than a decade has gone by. The housing bubble had not yet burst and the idea of a recession seemed like an impossibility in those halcyon days. The U.S. had yet to elect its first non-white president, and Osama bin Laden was still at large. Scientists were years away from cloning human stem cells and the iPhone was still a twinkle in Apple’s eye. Since 2005, 1.24 billion people have been born, while half a billion have died, leading to a net increase of about 700 million in the world’s population.

The storm water and erosion control industry has changed as well. There has been an overwhelming number of new and updated regulations, legislation, technological advances and paradigm shifts. Funding worries continue as the regulatory screws tighten and aging infrastructure crumbles, and appreciation for cost-effective green infrastructure and water reuse technologies is growing. More than ever before, the general public is taking an interest in storm water management and sustainable water practices, due in part to the looming threats of climate change and water scarcity.

This issue celebrates the debut of Storm Water Solutions 10 years ago. The original 28-page publication ran three times a year and had a circulation of 40,000. Today, the magazine publishes 10 issues per year that run 44 to 56 pages, in both print and digital editions; has its own website and e-newsletters; hosts webinars and the Virtual Expo while sustaining a trade show presence; and maintains a circulation of 70,027. 

The world, the industry and the magazine all have come a long way in the past 10 years, and it’s exciting to think about where we are headed. Storm water and erosion control professionals have demonstrated their resilience, moxie and open-mindedness during the ups and downs of the past decade, and you make the future look very bright indeed.

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