VWC Celebrates Infrastructure Week 2016 With National Tour

The Value of Water Coalition kicked off Infrastructure Week with a national tour of water sector innovators. There is no doubt the infrastructure crises facing the country are vast—from roads and rails to ports and pipes. In the water sector, the infrastructure crisis comes in the form of hundred-year-old systems. There are water main breaks every two minutes across the country and severe stresses on systems, from flooding to drought, which make in increasingly difficult to maintain a safe, reliable water supply. But there are some advancing solutions to the nation's water challenges.

The Value of Water Local Innovators Tour celebrates and spotlights solutions to the nation's water infrastructure crisis during Infrastructure Week May 16 to 22. Participating cities will tell the story about why water infrastructure matters to their communities and the nation.

Cleveland, Ohio

Monday, May 16 - Friday, May 20

Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District kicked off a week of activities with "Someone Forgot to Pay America's Water Infrastructure Bill" presentation at the City Club of Cleveland May 11. The activities continue with an up close and personal sewer walk for media, a green infrastructure tour for elected officials and a "Sewer U" seminar series for the general public.

Norfolk, Virginia

Monday, May 16 - Friday, May 20

Hampton Roads Sanitation District offers a virtual tour of a $156 million project to upgrade its Virginia Initiative Plant (VIP) in Norfolk, Va. by enhancing its ability to remove nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) from wastewater, increasing the hydraulic capacity so the plant can treat additional flows during storms, and replacing aging equipment to improve operations. See how this VIP project will protect public health, improve water quality, enhance reliable wastewater treatment and provide jobs for contractors and their suppliers.

Hampton Roads, Virginia

Monday, May 16 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The Hampton Roads Sanitation District will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a new wastewater pump station, which will replace a facility first built in 1945. Speakers include the George Wallace, mayor of the city of Hampton, and the Molly Joseph Ward, Virginia secretary of natural resources.

Camden, New Jersey

Tuesday, May 17 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

American Water and the city of Camden will host a press event to announce a public-private partnership to improve water and wastewater services, which will provide workforce training and skill development in the community. Speakers include Dana L. Redd, mayor of the city of Camden, and Sharon Cameron, president of American Water Enterprises.                                                                                        

Alexandria, Virginia

Tuesday, May 17 from 11:30am to 2:30 p.m. & Thursday, May 19 from 10:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m.

Behind-the-scenes tours for press and elected officials will demonstrate how Alexandria Renew Enterprises transforms 13 billion gal of wastewater each year into reclaimed water, clean energy and nutrient-rich soil amendment. The tour will also preview the new LEED Platinum Environmental Center and nutrient management facility and adjacent athletic field.

Chicago, Illinois

Saturday, May 21 from 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m.

A day of open houses is scheduled at six of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's six water treatment plants across the Chicago region. The open houses offer an exclusive look at plant operations and storm water management practices. MWRD is also giving away hundreds of free potted oak tree saplings to restore the region's depleted canopy and help reduce flooding.

Find out more about Infrastructure Week at www.infrastructureweek.org. Follow the conversation on Twitter, @InfraWeek and #InfrastructureMatters.

Source: Value of Water Coalition