Engineering Inc. - May/June 2006 - (Page 52)

O N E ON ONE Political Will Required to Solve Looming Water Crisis Q. A. tion now available to everyone on virtually everything. We The profession always as a firm that has now have environmentalists, has advocated for Qualifica- completed more than 1,000 public relations profession- tions-Based Selection, fair and water supply projects, what als, information management reasonable risk allocation and is your view of the condition Ronald J. Drnevich is president experts, lawyers and numerous fair and reasonable compensa- of our nation's water supply and CEO of Gannett Fleming in others involved in the develop- tion provisions. I have no res- infrastructure and new mea- Harrisburg, Pa. ment of projects that at one ervations that the Brooks sures that may be needed? A. time required only engineers Act was the best thing that Q and architects. What isn't read- The management of this has been legislated for our ily understood is how this has precious resource is crucial profession. . Looking back over significantly increased the cost everywhere in the U.S. and However, there are several the past 90 years of Gan- and time it takes to complete the world. We build massive areas that need attention. One nett Fleming's growth to a project. systems to collect it, purify it, is reform of our legal system to a national firm, what have Q. deliver it and carry it away. give businesses recourse against been the primary changes The water infrastructure that frivolous lawsuits. We need a in your markets and ways of Looking forward, what was built at the turn of the process to realistically screen doing business? are the major challenges A 20th century is in the greatest plaintiff cases before we spend that you believe our industry . Our industry has danger. Leakage in this sys- inordinate amounts on legal must face? A. changed in many ways. But it tem is costing us immensely, fees. In addition, the courts has also repeated itself, such as The major industry and yet the rush is to provide gradually have let the standard the cycle of how projects are challenges are finding the nec- service to new developments of care gravitate toward perfec- financed, who owns and oper- essary funding to maintain instead of what is deteriorat- tion. And the expectations of ates them and how they are what we have built over the ing. A national initiative is many are that they should be developed. Some of Gannett years, to repair or replace needed to increase the focus compensated even when they Fleming's early assignments aging infrastructure and to on our water supply. This will are primarily at fault. were dams for private and meet the needs of an increas- take the political will to either We also are going to come public entities, where our firm ingly mobile and educated find new funding or redirect to a point when water issues performed the construction as population. It has everyone re- funds from other programs so become a bigger priority well as the design. That project thinking the way projects are that we can address the most than transportation issues. A delivery system disappeared financed private sources, pressing water infrastructure comprehensive program for from the public sector for capturing economic develop- needs in our older major sustaining the availability of years. But it's back again, as if ment spin-offs and alternative urban areas. water and its attributes before Q. it's a novel idea. project development models. and after it reaches the fau- In my opinion, the big- While these are different ways cet with common sense as a longtime member gest change has been the of getting to the same end, the and reliable funding needs of aCEC, you have par- increased participation in the cost of getting water out of to be developed. There's no ticipated in the passage of decision-making process by the tap, discarding and clean- national mechanism to fund legislation and regulatory other interests including ing waste and moving from water needs as there is for reform to enhance the busi- government agencies, private one place to another still will, transportation, and we all ness environment of the a/E and special interest groups directly or indirectly, be borne know how difficult transporta- industry. Which measures and community activist by the public. tion funding has become every do you believe have had the groups both for and against six years. n greatest impact, and what a project. This has been driven still needs to be done? by the amount of informa- 52 ENGINEERING INC. MaY / JUNE 2006

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Engineering Inc. - May/June 2006

From ACEC to You
News & Notes
Market Watch
Legislative Action
Firm Footing
Bush Addresses ACEC Members
Engineering Excellence Awards
Minimize Risks from Phase 1 ESA Scope Limitations
Business Insights
Managing Sales Ethics . . . Avoiding a Slippery Slope
Members in the News
One on One

Engineering Inc. - May/June 2006