TPI September 2024

A multi-billion dollar water industry segment not to be overlooked by the tube and pipe industry By Mary Scott Nabers, president, Strategic Partnerships Inc

The project has been tagged with an $89mn cost estimate. However, recently, the city released bid documents and the low bid came in at $178mn. The solicitation was pulled down, and city leaders are expected to issue a new RFP when more funding is found. A timeline for that, however, has not been announced. The Benton Township in Michigan will receive approximately $20mn for water projects from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. The funding is allocated for critical water infrastructure and will help support improvements to expand the community’s water treatment plant’s filtration-rated capacity. Additionally, the plant’s supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system will be updated for the first time since the plant’s construction in 2011. Replacing lead distribution pipes Water usage data shows that the peak daily water demand at the plant often reaches up to 88 per cent of the plant’s daily capacity, signalling the need for expansion. In addition to this effort, city leaders will oversee the construction of two new water towers and a new water main, which will replace the lead-infested water distribution pipes. Construction is scheduled for 2025. The Truckee Meadows Water Authority and the City of Reno, Nevada, secured a $30mn grant from the US Bureau of Reclamation to establish an advanced purified water facility. It will be the state’s first water purification and reuse facility to produce water for water recycling practices. With most of the design phase completed, the project outlines plans for the water facility, six miles of pipeline that will be required and two injection wells. The facility will process highly treated flowing water from the Reno Stead Water Reclamation Facility through a comprehensive purification process, including ozonation, biological carbon filtration and ultraviolet disinfection.

Drinking water infrastructure The Environmental Protection Agency predicts that drinking water and wastewater treatment infrastructure needs will exceed $744bn for construction, repairs and expansions over the next 20 years to meet water quality standards and stated goals. The following examples of upcoming water projects represent just a fraction of the activity found throughout the US government officials in America are working hard to avoid a water needs tsunami in America. Citizens and businesses in Charlotte County, Florida, will benefit from an expansion project at the Burnt Store Water Reclamation Facility. The project is currently being designed to increase the region’s water supply from 0.5 to 2.5 million gallons per day to meet the current demand and anticipated demand from growth and development. Water resources are a critical component of any US region’s ecosystems. But, perhaps even more important is the realisation that water is also essential for human survival. Its needs cannot be ignored. In 2023, the US market for only drinking water treatment and wastewater systems was estimated to be $4.93bn. This revelation also revealed that the industry segment for drinking water and treated water will likely increase at a rate of 7 per cent annually for many years – and perhaps decades. The data clearly signals that government contractors should not overlook this water infrastructure segment. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocated more than $50bn for water infrastructure of all kinds between 2022 and 2026. Currently, the country is experiencing the richest environment for water infrastructure funding in the history of the US. Funding, currently, is readily available.

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September 2024 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL