The Pipe Issue
By Kris Polly
Every type of pipe has its sweet spot—the application, use, pressure, or soil type for which it is the perfect match. American manufacturers of fiberglass, steel, concrete, lined concrete, plastic, and many other types of pipe are working every day to make their products better, longer lasting, and more reliable.
In our cover story this month, CEO and President Martin Dana of Hobas Pipe USA tells us about his company’s corrosion-resistant fiberglass pipe products, its recent move into the potable water market, and its commitment to sustainability.
We also speak with Mike Wray, a senior vice president at Northwest Pipe and the general manager of the company’s precast and engineered water technology group, about Northwest Pipe’s recent acquisitions of ParkUSA and Geneva Pipe and Precast and how they have helped expand its business.
Next, we talk with Linda Higgins of Northern California’s Placer County Water Agency about how the organization is communicating with its customers about drought-related water conservation measures, including via creative public service announcements.
Process Wastewater Technologies builds robust and effective volute dewatering presses that dewater sludge from wastewater plants, making it easier to handle and dispose of. Business Development Manager and Regional Sales Manager Chris Hubbard tells us more.
Finally, we speak with Todd Bridges, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ national lead for its Engineering With Nature (EWN) program. EWN involves integrating nature into infrastructure solutions, including coastal resilience and floodwater control projects.
The U.S. pipe industry manufactures products of the highest quality, and each variation in material and type has its place. I hope you enjoy learning about the cutting-edge developments in this field this month.
Kris Polly is the editor-in-chief of Municipal Water Leader magazine and the president and CEO of Water Strategies LLC, a government relations firm he began in February 2009 for the purpose of representing and guiding water, power, and agricultural entities in their dealings with Congress, the Bureau of Reclamation, and other federal government agencies. He can be contacted at kris.polly@waterstrategies.com.