Thomas R. Morgan, P.E., BCEE, receives Fuller Award from NEWWA
l: Tom poses for a photo with NEWWA President-Elect Gene Koontz; r: Tom give his acceptance speech
Thomas R. Morgan, P.E., BCEE, Client Service Specialist at Tata & Howard, received the prestigious George Warren Fuller Award from the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA) during the Membership Recognition Gala on Tuesday evening, September 23, 2014.
Tom has been dedicated to providing water, wastewater, and stormwater services to communities throughout New England for the past 40 years. Over the same timeframe, he has been actively involved in New England Water Works Association. He has served as Chair of the Program Committee, of which he is still a member, and is currently serving as Chair of the Innovations Committee. In addition, he has assisted with the aging infrastructure contest for the last eight years, organized several scavenger hunts at the Spring Conference, and attended numerous Association events. He is also an active and long-term contributor to Water for People, providing donations for much needed assistance to developing countries for the advancement of clean water and sanitary facilities.
The George Warren Fuller Award was established in 1937 and is presented annually to one member per section of the American Water Works Association for their distinguished service to the water supply field in commemoration of the sound engineering skill, the brilliant diplomatic talent, and the constructive leadership which characterized the life of George Warren Fuller, one of America’s most eminent engineers. Such designation is presumed to recognize publicly the contribution toward the advancement of water works practice the individual has made.
Boston police participate in the Ice Bucket Challenge for ALS
The ALS ice bucket challenge. At this point, everyone has seen or heard of it. Videos of friends and families, movie stars and sports figures, and even the neighborhood kids dousing themselves with icewater has flooded (pun intended) social media, and the whole project has thus far realized over $80 million dollars in donations for ALS research. Raising funds for ALS, a progressive neurodegenerative disease for which there is no cure, is arguably a very worthy cause, and one which we fully support. And, in addition to raising much-needed funds for ALS, the Ice Bucket Challenge has increased awareness on another important issue: the global water crisis. While you watch others pour water over their heads, or participate yourself, keep these facts in mind:
An estimated 2.4 billion people lack adequate sanitation and 1.1 billion people are without access to safe water.
90 percent of wastewater in developing countries is discharged into rivers and streams without any treatment.
There are 1.6 million deaths per year attributed to dirty water and poor sanitation (World Watch; World Health Organization)
In the past ten years, diarrhea related to unsanitary water has killed more children than all the people lost to armed conflict since WWII.
At any one time, it is estimated that half the world’s hospital beds are occupied with patients suffering from waterborne diseases.
Every 15 seconds, a child dies from a water-related illness. That’s over 4,000 children every day, or 1.6 million children per year.
Water-related illness is the leading cause of death in children under five years of age.
People may not realize that the average African family uses only 4-5 gallons of water per day. In addition, the small amount of water they do use is untreated and miles away. The task of gathering water falls to young women and girls, who often have to travel three to six hours per day to retrieve it, eliminating any possibility of education. The ripple effect of the water crisis is indeed far-reaching.
A woman collects water from an unimproved source in Africa
These facts are indeed sobering, and warrant some serious thought when it comes to our world’s most precious resource. Matt Damon, famed actor and co-founder of the charity water.org, opted to use toilet water for his Ice Bucket Challenge, stating that “the water in our toilets in the West is actually cleaner than the water that most people in the developing world have access to.” So we would like to applaud Matt Damon and to issue another challenge. Perhaps all those who participated in the Ice Bucket Challenge could also give a donation to Water For People. Water For People is a charitable organization whose goal is to ensure that “Everyone Forever” has access to improved water and sanitation. To date, over 2.4 million people have shared Ice Bucket Challenge videos on Facebook. If each of these people also gave just a single dollar to Water For People, the positive impact – $2.4 million – would be tremendous. The average cost to sustainably provide clean drinking water in Africa is $3.50 per person. If $2.4 million in donations were received, those funds would provide a permanent drinking water solution for about 700,000 people. Will you accept the challenge?
For more information on Water For People, or to make a donation, please visit their website: www.waterforpeople.org.
The town of Canaan, VT has received $4.8 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development to address chronic water quality issues. Engineering is being provided by Tata & Howard, and construction is expected to commence by May 2015. Read the full article here: Caledonian Record May 29 2014 – Canaan VT receives funding to address water quality
Ryan P. Neyland, P.E., has over nine years of concentrated water treatment experience. Mr. Neyland has been involved in numerous water projects including all phases of planning, design, and construction services, as well as pump station rehabilitation and SCADA. Mr. Neyland is currently working on the 8 mgd Falmouth Dissolved Air Flotation Water Treatment Plant. He works out of our Marlborough office and can be reached at 508-303-9400 x108 or rneyland@tataandhoward.com.
AWWA has released a report on the results of its Water Shortage Preparedness Survey and it is now available for download. The final report reflects analysis of 485 water utility responses to questions about utility practices and policies for water shortage planning and implementation.
In AWWA’s 2014 State of the Water Industry report, drought/periodic water shortages were ranked as the eighth most important issue facing water professionals. In addition, future droughts and water shortages may be exacerbated by climate change, which can magnify the effects of water shortages especially following extreme sequential swings, e.g., water quality changes brought about by drought (where impacts can develop) followed by flooding (where those impacts are realized).
The survey results are intended to serve as a foundation for action and further discovery. Water professionals across North America continue to meet society’s expectations for safe and clean water by developing and implementing solutions to solve a never-ending stream of difficult issues, including water shortages. As we confront these challenges, AWWA will continue to serve as a bridge organization, uniting the worlds of science and research, policy, and practice to address these critical issues.
James J. Courchaine joins Tata & Howard, Inc. as Vice President
Key hire brings over 40 years of innovative water and wastewater experience to its Flagstaff, Arizona office
FLAGSTAFF, AZ, March 31, 2014 – Tata & Howard, Inc., a leading innovator in water, wastewater, stormwater, and hazardous waste engineering solutions, has announced that James J. Courchaine has joined the firm as Vice President. Mr. Courchaine has over 40 years experience in every facet of water and wastewater management, operations, and maintenance. He assisted with the development of the first Capacity, Management, Operations, and Maintenance (CMOM) guidelines as well as authored the Wastewater Collection System Operator Certification Studybook. Mr. Courchaine developed an innovative assessment matrix and structural framework for utility operations evaluation and improvement and is recognized as a subject matter expert at the national level. In addition, he developed and taught water and wastewater management, operations, and maintenance courses at the college level. He is also honoree and first recipient of the James J. Courchaine Collection Systems Award. Mr. Courchaine will be working out of Tata & Howard’s Flagstaff, Arizona office located at 528 W. Aspen Avenue. He can be reached at 928-774-9500 or jcourchaine@tataandhoward.com.
About Tata & Howard, Inc. Founded in 1992, Tata & Howard, Inc. is a specialized water, wastewater, stormwater, and hazardous waste consulting engineering firm with offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and Arizona. Tata & Howard utilizes a team approach with clients to provide a full range of innovative engineering services, from concept to completion, including reports, design, construction administration, resident observation, and start-up. In addition, Tata & Howard has worked with all sized markets, both public and private, to provide effective, inventive solutions. For more information, please visit tataandhoward.com.
Saxtons River, Vermont is considering an upgrade to their aging wastewater treatment facility. Engineering firm Marquise & Morano introduced three plans to Saxtons River Trustees at a meeting, and Gary A. Leach, P.E., Vice President of Tata & Howard, presented an option using sequencing batch reactors (SBR) as the best option. The SBR process uses ultraviolet (UV) light instead of chlorine to treat wastewater. Not only is the SBR option the most economical, but it is also a green initiative. UV utilizes only light, and therefore eliminates all processes associated with the handling and transport of chemicals, and it is safer for operators and aquatic life. For more information on the Saxtons River wastewater treatment project, click here.
UNITED STATES – Jan 14: Sen. Joe Manchin, D-WVA., talks with reporters on the way to the Senate policy luncheons in the U.S. Capitol on January 14, 2014. (Photo By Douglas Graham/CQ Roll Call)
In response to the recent water crisis that left over 300,000 West Virginians without water, a group of Senate Democrats have prepared a bill that aims to protect the American people from chemical spills that threaten public drinking water supplies. US Senators Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), and Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) intend to introduce The Chemical Safety and Drinking Water Protection Act of 2014, which includes both prevention of and preparedness for future chemical spills, to Congress when they return from recess this week.
Key principles of the bill include implementing regular state inspections of above-ground chemical storage facilities and requiring the industry to develop state-approved emergency response plans. In addition, the bill would allow states to recoup costs incurred from responding to emergencies.
“No West Virginian or American should have to go through something like this again, and that is why I plan to introduce common sense legislation to make sure all chemicals are appropriately monitored,” Senator Manchin said. “We can work to improve the safety of Americans by ensuring that chemicals are properly managed, while also balancing the positive impact the chemical industry has made to our country.”
Senator Boxer said, “This legislation protects children and families across the nation by providing the tools necessary to help prevent dangerous chemical spills that threaten their drinking water.”
“The fact that there was a lack of regulations which allowed this particular storage facility to go uninspected for so many years is absurd,” Senator Rockefeller said. “I’m encouraged we are taking these steps to bring some accountability to industry that will help protect West Virginia families and our state’s economy.”
The Chemical Safety and Drinking Water Protection Act of 2014 aims to implement the following initiatives:
State Programs: Establish state programs under the Safe Drinking Water Act to oversee and inspect chemical facilities that present a threat to sources of drinking water;
Build on Existing Drinking Water Protection Plans: Direct states to use existing source water protection plans developed under the Safe Drinking Water Act to identify facilities that present a risk to drinking water;
Minimum Federal Standards for State Programs: Establish minimum standards for chemical facilities subject to a state program, including the following:
Construction standards;
Leak detection and spill and overfill requirements;
Emergency response and communications plans;
Notification of the EPA, state officials, and public water systems of chemicals that are being stored at a facility.
Minimum Inspection Requirements: Require inspection of these facilities on a regular basis. Facilities identified in drinking water protection plans are inspected every 3 years and all other facilities are inspected every 5 years;
Ensure Drinking Water Systems Have Information: Require information on chemical facilities to be shared with drinking water systems in the same watershed;
Give Drinking Water Systems Tools to Address Emergencies: Allow drinking water systems to act in emergency situations to stop an immediate threat to people who receive drinking water from a public water system;
Ensure States Can Recover Costs for Response: Allow states to recoup costs incurred from responding to emergencies.
The chemical facility that caused the West Virginia water crisis, Freedom Industries, had not been inspected in over 20 years, did not report the spill, and had no emergency response plan in place. Read about the crisis here.
Contractor for Greensboro Fire District #1 Project Wins Best Builder Award
We would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to Munson Earth-Moving Corp. for receiving the Associated General Contractors of Vermont’s 2013 Best Builders Award.
Tata & Howard has been working with Greensboro Fire District #1 in Greensboro, Vermont to assist with responses to the Water Supply Divisions Sanitary Survey and to develop alternatives for the long term plan that would address all deficiencies and meet compliance with the Federal and State drinking water rules. Part of the solution included the replacement of water mains to meet required system pressures and to address the old leaking pipes. Munson Earth-Moving Corp. provided construction services and Tata & Howard provided construction administration. Munson Earth-Moving Corp. received the prestigious 2013 Best Builder Award and garnered praise from local residents. To read the project narrative, please click here: Greensboro Best Builder Narrative
Karen has been with the firm for over 15 years, managing hydraulic analyses, asset management studies, and water system design projects. She has managed and provided technical reviews on many of the firm’s Capital Efficiency Plans™. Additionally, she serves as Manager of Business Development for the firm. Karen’s role in client development and managing high profile clients has been key to the success of the firm.
Jenna joined the firm over 16 years ago. She serves as manager on water system design projects as well as firm-wide Manager of Project Finance, and has served as manager of our New Hampshire operations. Jenna has been instrumental in developing and maintaining clients in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
Let's stay in touch.
Get the latest news, blogs, and insights conveniently in your inbox.
Contractor for Greensboro Fire District #1 Project Wins Best Builder Award
