Category: The T&H Blog

Critical Communication Skills for Successful Projects

From the moment a project opens, to the day it reaches completion, communication between the engineering project manager and client is critical. In fact, the success or failure of the project is hinged on efficient, effective, and timely communication. With so many moving pieces involved, communication is key for understanding project scope, demands, and expectations. Continue reading and dive into five critical communication skills for the successful completion of engineering projects.

1 – Communicate Often

Frequent communication, whether verbal or written, is a key element to a successful project. Communication is now in the form of telephone calls, emails, and video conferencing.  Keeping everyone informed and updated on the progress and status of their job needs to continue despite not being able to physically meet.

2 – Listen

Often when thinking about communicating, speaking is typically what comes to mind. But perhaps more important is what happens on the other end – listening. Listening (and listening well) is crucial during all phases of a project. From the get-go, gather questions, requests, concerns, ideas, and goals before doing anything else. The entire team, engineer and owner, need to be on the same page through every phase. Train yourself to listen to hear, rather than listen to respond. Should you need additional insights or direction, continue keeping the line of communication open.

3 – Master Public Speaking and Presenting

We strive to make our clients’ jobs easier.  With that, we need to master both public speaking and expressing our professional opinion in an easily understood manner.  As a project manager in the water industry, we work a lot with municipalities and/or private companies. This could mean presenting to boards, councils, or departments, in big groups or small. Mastering the art of public speaking and presenting is critical for conveying our message. This entails knowing the audience and tailoring our language, tone and presentation to that particular group. Are they well versed in the industry? If the group is not as familiar with certain terminology or project elements, complex ideas need to be simplified for better understanding.

4 – Check-In During Non-Project Times

Checking in with clients during times when there are no projects is equally as important as when there are projects in progress. The down time in between projects can serve as an excellent opportunity to stay informed about client projects coming down the pipeline, as well as provide updates on similar projects your firm is working on.

5 – Be Clear, Concise, and Confident

With so much going on throughout a project, being able to communicate clearly and concisely is critical. While communication is certainly valuable, so too is time. Brevity is recommended, when possible. The following tendencies that keep most people from being brief are:

  • The tendency to over-explain
  • The tendency to be unprepared
  • The tendency to miss the point

If you come prepared with your main focus in mind, you will be successful in communicating a clear and concise message. Do that by:

  • Mapping out your message
  • Leading with the headline/main point
  • Trimming away the excess

How to Get, Grow, and Keep the Best Staff

The Makeup of the Water and Wastewater Utility Workforce

In an ever-changing workforce, getting, keeping, and replacing staff is a key component to managing system assets for the indefinite sustainability of the utility. We are now in an era where the water industry is filled with three major groups of working professionals: Baby Boomers, Generation Xers, Generation Yers (also known as Millennials), and Generation Zers (also known as Plurals.)

Baby Boomers

The Baby Boomers were born between 1946 and 1964 and are often time the more senior leaders or employees within the company. Overall, this group of workers have a strong work ethic. They’re not adverse to the risk of trying something new and generally see themselves as able to do anything.

This group is also in or approaching retirement age. They hold vast amounts of system and industry knowledge, yet, as an industry, we do not do a good enough job working to secure this long-term employee knowledge.

Generation X

The Generation Xers we born between 1965 to 1976. Growing up in the decade following the Cold War, they saw the inception of the home computer, video games and the internet as a tool for commercial and social purposes. They’re typically independent, resourceful, and self-sufficient. They value freedom and responsibility in the workplace and are known to display a casual disdain for authority and structured work hours.

Generation Y

Workers in Generation Y, also known as millennials, were born between 1977 and 1996. This group is more likely to question authority and demand answers. Workers in this group as known to be creative thinkers, social beings, collaborative, and open-minded. They are known as masters of instant communications and typically want to be involved in the decision-making process.

Generation Z

The newest generation of professionals in the workforce are the ones born between 1997 and now. They are known as the Plurals and are the most ethnically diverse population to date. They are least likely to believe in the ‘American Dream’ and are very entrepreneurial and resourceful. This group grew up with technology at their fingertips, and mobile phones as their primary source of information and communication.

Coming into Leadership

For the most part, Baby Boomers are/have been in leadership roles within the water industry for the last few decades. In fact, most people in the current day workforce likely can’t recall a workforce without this generation. According to the American Water Works Association’s 2019 State of the Water Industry report, 45% of respondents have spent 20 or more years in the industry. As leaders, Baby Boomers hold vast amounts of knowledge that is going to be difficult to replace by the up-and-coming generations.

As they near the age of retirement, the Gen X, Gen Y and Gen Z professionals are now in a position to step up into vacant roles. But are they ready? Do they have the knowledge? And more importantly, do they have what it takes to be a good leader?

Qualities of a Leader

  • Inspire others
  • Effective communicators
  • Delegate based on identifying different strengths
  • Have a solid vision of where they want to take you and why
  • Have been a ‘follower’
  • Listens well
  • Empowers those around them

Responsibilities of a Leader

  • Making tough decisions
  • Making unpopular decisions
  • Making decisions on the basis of facts
  • Being fair in all dealings
  • Ability to be stern as well as compassionate

A Good Leader Does Not

  • Worry about giving back more than they are given
  • Strive to be or appear to be more than they really are
  • Make decisions based on the fear of other people’s reactions
  • Turn away from change when change is necessary

Identifying Future Leaders and Managers

As current leaders move toward retirement (at a rate of 10,000 per day,) it’s critical to have a plan in place for obtaining the next group of leaders and managers.  The succession planning process requires identification of organizational needs based on upcoming retirements and who will fill that role from within the organization or if an outside search is required.  Once the person is identified, co-creation of an individualized development plan is essential to provide the next generation with the tools to succeed in the position.  Equally as important is follow through on the development plans.

Managing People

As new managers emerge into the space, they will have a lot of ground to cover. The most important, of course, is getting to know other staff members, and allowing staff the same thing in return.

Creating a culture of accountability is key. A good manager or leader must lead by example. This includes doing what they say they will do. In addition, setting and communicating clear expectations is crucial as well as providing an opportunity for feedback.

Stepping into a leadership role also includes looking at the business from a new perspective. What areas should be looked at with a new set of eyes?

  • Job descriptions – make sure they are all up to date.
  • Effective Practice Guidelines (EPGs) – formerly SOPs.
  • Performance measures – make sure they are realistic.
  • Training – be sure that new and seasoned staff alike are properly and fully trained on all procedures and protocols.
  • Technology – what new advancements can aid in your utility’s success?

Always Ask Questions

As a leader or manager, there are always questions you should be asking yourself. Some of these include:

  • Am I identifying opportunities for improvement?
  • Do I have a structured, programmatic approach to managing, operating and maintaining my utility?
  • Do I have a plan that describes what I do, when I do it, and most importantly, WHY I do it?
  • Am I communicating clearly?
  • What works well, what does not work well, and why?
  • How is morale among staff?

Tips for Future Leaders

  • Leading people doesn’t necessarily come naturally. Your success will be based on the effort you put in.
  • You must want to be in this position. It is very demanding, and you must be responsible and accountable.
  • Provide the framework for a structured and programmatic approach to managing, operating, and maintaining your utility in a more business-like manner.

Final Notes on Getting, Growing, Keeping, and Replacing the Best Staff

  • Listen to understand, not just to respond
  • Communicate effectively
  • Help staff be accountable
  • Be sincere, genuine, and show you truly care

“If you want to move people, it has to be toward a vision that’s positive for them, that taps important values, that gets them something they desire and it has to be presented in a compelling way so that they feel inspired to follow.” – Martin Luther King, Jr”

The Strange Truth About Water

Did you know that every single drop of water on earth has existed for billions of years? The water in the oceans, rivers, ice-caps, storm clouds, and even inside of us has been perpetually cycling through the planet since it first arrived.

According to geochemical studies, it has been said that water arrived on earth with asteroids from space. The molecules that form water were on an incredible voyage, likely for millions of years, before they reached our planet. And while water is such a familiar aspect of our world, larger bodies of water formed hundreds of millions of years after the planet took shape.

So aside from the notion that any and all drops of water we have encountered have been inside of oceans and dinosaurs – what else makes water so strange?

Breaking All the Rules

For one, water simply does not follow the ‘normal’ rules of chemistry. Given the properties of its makeup, water should exist as a gas. A water molecule is made from two very light atoms – hydrogen and oxygen. At the ambient conditions on the surface of the earth (temperature and pressure), this molecule should be a gas. For example, hydrogen sulfide is a gas even though it has twice the molecular weight of water.

Freezing and Floating

Another strange thing about water is that when it freezes, it expands. Most substances shrink when they transform from a liquid to a solid since molecules are packing more densely together. Think about what happens when you fill an ice tray with water. The next morning, ice is protruding out over the edge of the tray. On top of that, the frozen water floats. What happens when you drop any other solid into a liquid? It sinks. This phenomenon is called hydrogen bonding and occurs when polar ends with opposite charges of water molecules attract to other water molecules. The bond is not strong though and can be broken by heating the solid over 0 degrees Celsius.

Freezing Cold Hot

You might have noticed at some point or another that hot water freezes faster than cold water. This is known as the Mpemba effect. For hundreds of years, scientists and mathematicians have been trying to figure this out – but it was not until 2013 when something clicked. A research assistant at the University of Zagreb claims that convection currents in warm water cause it to cool more rapidly.

Up, Up and Away

Gravity – what goes up, must come down. Not necessarily with water though. Water molecules can float upwards against the force of gravity. This process is called capillary action.

Want to learn more about why water might just be the strangest thing in the universe? Check out this video produced by BBC.

Save Water in the New Year

Now that we’re into the New Year – are you sticking with your New Year’s Resolutions? While eating healthy, hitting the gym, and losing those holiday pounds are often high on the resolution list – it’s important to remember the importance of saving water. Did you resolve to save more water this year?

If you’re looking for helpful tips and ideas to save water, you’ve come to the right place. WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has created an excellent resource to help you stay on track.

January

  • Take the “I’m for Water” pledge and commit to saving water throughout the year. If you’re just starting now, don’t worry! You can take the pledge any time.
  • Learn about how you can reduce water usage by first getting to know your water bill. Are you currently using too much?

February

  • Look into purchasing WaterSense labeled fixtures for your bathroom and kitchen.
  • Turn off the water when brushing your teeth and try reducing your shower time to save even more water.

March

  • Celebrate ‘Fix a Leak Week’ by checking pipes throughout the inside and outside of your house for leaks. Make sure no water is dripping in shower or drain pipes – if it is – be sure to remedy with pipe tape.
  • Check your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is used. Did it change?

April

  • Celebrate Earth Day! Lay mulch around your flowers and plants to prevent evaporation after watering.
  • Only water your lawn when needed.

May

  • April showers bring May flowers! If you’re concerned about keeping your grass and landscaping lush, be sure to check your watering system to ensure no water is being wasted.
  • Do you have an irrigation system? Look for an irrigation professional certified by a WaterSense labeled program to help maximize efficiency.

June

  • Look for rebates should you choose to install WaterSense labeled solutions in your home.

July

  • With high summer temperatures, avoid watering your lawn and plants in the middle of the day. This will reduce quick evaporation of water.

August

  • Happy World Water Week! Celebrate by committing to wash your clothes only if you have a full load.

September

  • Calculate how much you can save by using WaterSense labeled products in your home.
  • Thinking about adding new landscaping to your yard this fall? Research native plants that don’t require a lot of water to survive.

October

  • During Energy Action Month, swap out any inefficient showerheads with ones that release fewer gallons of water per minute.

November

  • Check your toilet for leaks.
  • Consider getting a new WaterSense labeled toilet to reduce water usage by up to 60 percent.

December

  • Be sure to scrape leftover food from your plate into the trash to avoid wasting water rinsing dishes off.
  • Get an early start on your resolutions and take the I’m For Water pledge again!

Are you up for the challenge this year? Making small changes each month can truly make a difference. Help save water this year and every year by committing to using and wasting less today!

The Road to PFAS-Free Drinking Water

The News

The PFAS Action Act of 2019, H.R. 535, a bill that would require the Pentagon to work with communities to cleanup contamination from PFAS, was passed by the House last week. The bill passed 247-159, with 24 Republicans in favor. The PFAS Action Act would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to declare two types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous and would help in aiding the removal of toxic, chemical substances from drinking water supplies across the country.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluoroactanesulfonic acid (PFOS), the key ingredients of aqueous film-forming foams used by the U.S. military for firefighting, would be labeled as toxic substances if the bill is enacted. As such, areas contaminated with these substances would subsequently become Superfund Sites and move up the ladder in terms of priority cleanup.

Action Items

The bill would also create maximum allowable drinking water levels for both PFOA and PFOS and establish stricter guidelines for the use of firefighting foams containing the hazardous substances. Currently, there is no maximum contaminant level for PFAS chemicals, however, the EPA has enforced a non-mandatory health advisory level of 70 parts per trillion (ppt) for the sum of PFOA and PFOS.

So far, the Pentagon has identified 401 active and former military and National Guard sites where PFOA and PFOS use has been detected. Additionally, five to 10 million people across the country may be exposed to water contaminated with PFAS. These chemicals have been linked to testicular and kidney cancer, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, birth defects and high blood pressure in pregnant women.

Future Concerns

While the bill has passed the House, there may still be resistance in the Senate due to the significant scope and cost of the contamination cleanup. The Congressional Budget Office estimated that the PFAS Action Act of 2019 would cost at least $300 million in the next decade, but could be much higher given that it would obligate the federal government to mitigate contamination on former federal properties that have since become state, local or privately owned.

Another foreseeable concern that surfaced from the White House just two days before the vote noted that the bill would overstep the EPA’s authority surrounding the issue. The EPA currently has an Action Plan in place to address PFAS and protect public health.

Looking Ahead

On the contrary, the Environmental Working Group (EWG), an advocacy organization pushing for stricter controls over PFAS, is hopeful that the bill will be passed. Scott Faber, senior vice president of governmental affairs for the EWG stated that “it’s time for Congress to set meaningful deadlines for the EPA.” In doing such, he added, “the PFAS Action Act will immediately designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances, which will kickstart the clean-up process at contaminated sites.”

As this bill continues to play out in Washington, 2020 presidential candidates are also taking stands to address the PFAS issues and crack down on these chemicals if elected. In the absence of federal regulations, individual states are also implementing their own efforts to clean up contaminated drinking water and prevent future contamination from PFAS.

Risk & Resilience Assessments And ERPs

Questions Concerning New AWIA Requirements? We’ve got answers.

Community water systems that serve more than 3,300 people are required to complete a Risk and Resilience Assessment as well as develop an Emergency Response Plan (ERP) under Section 2013 of America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) of 2018.

What is a Risk and Resilience Assessment?

Risk and Resilience Assessments evaluate the vulnerabilities, threats, and consequences from potential hazards, including:

  • Natural hazards and malevolent acts
  • Resilience of water facility infrastructure
  • Monitoring practices
  • Financial systems
  • Chemical storage and handing
  • Operation and maintenance

With this new requirement, utilities must conduct the assessment and submit certification of its completion to the U.S. EPA by:

  • March 31, 2020 if serving >= 100k people
  • December 31, 2020 if serving 50k-99,999 people
  • June 30, 2021 if serving 3,301 to 49,999 people

When do water utilities need to get their Risk and Resilience Assessments re-certified?

Your utility must review the Risk and Resilience Assessment and submit a re-certification to the U.S. EPA every five years.

What is included in an ERP for drinking water utilities?

ERPs are critical for drinking water utilities as they provide plans and procedures for responding to a natural hazard or malevolent act that threatens safe drinking water. Preparing and practicing an ERP can save lives, prevent illness, enhance security, minimize property damage and lessen liability. Included in the plan are actions and identified equipment that are necessary to lessen the impact of a natural hazard, including alternative water sources and the relocation of intakes and flood protection barriers.

When do water utilities need to certify completion of their ERPs?

After completion of the risk and resiliency assessment, utilities must develop or update an Emergency Response Plan and certify completion to US EPA no later than six months after the risk and resiliency assessment certification.

When do water utilities need to get their ERPs re-certified?

Within six months of submitting the re-certification for the risk and resilience assessment, utilities must certify they have reviewed and, if necessary, revised, their emergency response plan.

Where can I find more information?

The U.S. EPA has a wealth of information on their website regarding these two new requirements. Use the links below to learn more.

Tata & Howard Can Help

Tata & Howard offers consulting services to assist water suppliers in completing the Risk and Resilience Assessment as well as update Emergency Response Plans to meet AWIA requirements. In addition, Tata & Howard offers flexible, one- and two-day training programs to assist water utilities and operators in obtaining the required ERP training. Training programs are approved for 7 Training Contact Hours by the MA board of Certification of Operators of Drinking Water Supply Facilities.

For additional guidance, assistance with meeting the AWIA requirements, or to schedule an ERP training session, please contact Michael Knox, Client Service Specialist at 508.925.7559 or by email at MKnox@TataandHoward.com.

T&H Receives Engineering Excellence Award

Tata & Howard, Inc. is pleased announce the Shrewsbury, MA Home Farm Water Treatment Plant as a Bronze winner for the 2020 American Council of Engineering Companies of Massachusetts’ (ACEC/MA) 2020 Engineering Excellence Award.

Tata & Howard evaluated various treatment options for design and construction of a water treatment facility based on loading rates, removal efficiencies, and estimated costs for removal of manganese. Manganese levels of the Home Farm Wells in Shrewsbury, MA had exceeded MassDEP’s Secondary Maximum Contaminant Level (SMCL) of 0.05 mg/L and the Office of Research and Standards Guidelines (ORSG) Lifetime Health Advisory limit of 0.3 mg/l. Based on the result of pilot testing, Tata & Howard, Inc. recommended biological pressure filtration for removal of iron and manganese.

Tata & Howard, Inc. provided lead engineering services for the design, permitting, funding assistance, bidding, award, construction administration, and resident project representation of a new 7.0 million gallons per day (mgd) Home Farm Water Treatment Plant to replace the existing treatment facility, which did not have processes to remove manganese.

The Water Treatment Plant focuses around biological pressure filtration processes for manganese removal using naturally occurring groundwater microorganisms with minimal chemical addition. Biological pressure filtration offers higher loading rates than conventional catalytic media for iron and manganese removal.

The Home Farm Water Treatment Plant is the largest biological pressure filtration facility in the northeast United States. The Home Farm Water Treatment Plant cost $14,900,000 inclusive of engineering and contingencies, of which approximately $1.2 million was for the biological filters.

Winning ACEC Engineering Excellence Award projects exemplify ingenuity and professionalism and represent the breadth of engineering’s contributions to our everyday lives. Projects display outstanding examples of how engineers connect communities, provide safe and reliable water and energy, and make buildings safe and efficient.

Draft National Water Reuse Action Plan

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a draft National Water Reuse Action Plan that identifies priority actions supporting the reuse of water for human consumption, agriculture, business, industry, recreation and healthy ecosystems. Items proposed in the draft will require the collaboration between governmental and nongovernmental organizations to implement the actions.

What is Water Reuse?

Water reuse is an innovative and dynamic strategy that can dramatically change the future of water availability in the U.S. Water reuse can be used to meet water demands and mitigate the risks posed by droughts. Recycled water can be used for a wide variety of applications, including agriculture, potable water supplies, groundwater replenishment, industrial processes and environmental restoration. The water reuse process can stem from sources such as industrial process water, agricultural return flows, municipal wastewater, oil and gas produced water, and stormwater.

Why Implement a Water Reuse Action Plan?

The draft National Water Reuse Action Plan is the first initiative of its kind to be coordinated across the water sector. According to EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water, David Ross, forty states anticipate shortages of fresh water within their borders over the next decade. Water reuse has the potential to ensure the viability of our water economy and provide safe and reliable drinking water for years to come.

After extensive research and outreach, it was determined that meaningful advancement of water reuse would best be accomplished by working cooperatively with all water sector stakeholders including federal, state, tribal, and local water perspectives. The EPA hopes to issue a final plan that will include clear commitments and milestones for actions that will increase the sustainability, security and resilience of the nation’s water resources.

What Does the Plan Entail?

The draft National Water Reuse Action Plan identifies 46 proposed actions across ten strategic objectives.

  1. Enable consideration of water reuse with integrated and collaborative action at the watershed scale.
  2. Coordinate and integrate federal, state, tribal, and local water reuse programs and policies.
  3. Compile and refine fit-for-purpose specifications.
  4. Promote technology development, deployment, and validation.
  5. Improve availability of water information.
  6. Facilitate financial support of water reuse.
  7. Integrate and coordinate research on water reuse.
  8. Improve outreach and communication on water reuse.
  9. Support a talented and dynamic workforce.
  10. Develop water reuse metrics that support goals and measure progress.

What Next?

The EPA is soliciting public input through a 90-day public comment period. This period will seek to:

  • Identify the most important actions to be taken in the near term.
  • Identify and describe the specific attributes and characteristics of the actions that will achieve success.
  • Secure specific commitments to lead/partner/collaborate on implementation of actions.

Comments close on December 16, 2019.

For more information, including opportunities to engage with EPA on this effort, visit https://www.epa.gov/waterreuse/water-reuse-action-plan.

For a quick snapshot of how water reuse works, check out this infographic created by World Bank.

Tips for Proper Leaf Disposal This Fall

The leaves have just about fallen off all of the trees! Avoid clogging storm drains with these great tips for proper leaf disposal.

 

Please feel free to print and share our Tips for Proper Leaf Disposal Infographic with attribution to Tata & Howard, Inc. A high-resolution pdf can be downloaded by clicking here.

Mulch

Finely chopped leaves make for an excellent lawn fertilizer. Mulch leaves by running over them with your mower during the next cutting, and leave the remains on the lawn. You can also spread the mulch across flower and vegetable beds.

Compost

Composting leaves is a great way to create nutrient-rich soil. In a mixed pile, create a 2-to-1 ratio of dead leaves to grass clippings. Spreading leaves over food scraps will soak up moisture and help contain odors as well.

Protect Our Waterways

Avoid raking leaves into or nearby storm drains, ditches, creeks, or rivers. In addition to clogging the drains, decaying leaves use up the water’s oxygen, harming aquatic inhabitants.

 

Imagine a Day Without Water 2019

Today, Tata & Howard joined elected officials, water utilities, community leaders, educators, and businesses from across the country as part of the fifth annual Imagine a Day Without Water, a nationwide day of education and advocacy about the value of water. Led by the Value of Water Campaign, a thousand organizations across the country will raise awareness about not taking water for granted and the crucial need for investment in our nation’s water systems.

Turning on the tap for clean, safe drinking water, and flushing the toilet with no second thought about what happens to wastewater, are actions most Americans take for granted every day. But drought, flooding, and population changes are stressing our water and wastewater systems. While most Americans enjoy reliable water service, our nation’s water infrastructure is aging and in need of investment. A day without water service is a public health and an economic disaster: a single nationwide day without water service would put $43.5 billion in economic activity at risk.

As water engineers, the Tata & Howard teams knows the importance of clean and reliable water — but how would our daily lives be affected if we even had one single day without out? To put this into perspective, we asked members of our team to answer three questions in reference to this.

  1. What does a day without water mean to you?
  2. What would you miss the most during a day without water?
  3. Why do you value water?

Check out the answers below!