Underground Construction - August 2017 - 4

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EDITORIAL
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Cleve Hogarth
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Robert Carpenter
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Managing Editor

Cathy Schmermund
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Senior Editor

Jeff Griffin
up-front@cox.net

Pipeline Editor

Kate Permenter
kpermenter@oildom.com

Washington DC Editor

Stephen Barlas

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UCT - EVENTS
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Underground Construction (USPS 063-970) (ISSN 32-0188) is
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NEWSLINE

LATEST INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS

Household Water, Sewer Bills Outpace Inflation 3X
Residential water and wastewater
bills have steadily increased by 5.7
percent annually over the past five
years, outpacing average annual
income growth (5 percent) and inflation (1.9 percent), and magnifying
the financial challenges facing municipal water utilities. According to Bluefield Research's "U.S. Municipal Water and Wastewater Utility Bill Index,"
analysis of the 50 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. shows combined
monthly water and wastewater bills
averaging $91.06, based on standard
Source: Bluefield Research
household consumption by geography.
With so much focus on water, the impact of sewer charges on household budgets is often
overlooked. In 2017, wastewater represented 58 percent of the total average utility bill for
U.S. households. Across cities, however, the disparity is extreme, with monthly sewer bills
ranging from $14.04 in Memphis to a high of $135.57 in Seattle. Similarly, monthly water
bills in Memphis averaged $15.96, compared to $92.62 in San Francisco.
"In the absence of an overhaul of federal and state water infrastructure support mechanisms, beyond state revolving funds and pending WIFIA funding, the burden falls largely on
ratepayers," said Erin Bonney Casey, director of US Municipal Water Research at Bluefield.
"For municipalities, the use of surcharges outside of general rate proceedings, such as Distribution System Investment Charges and Atlanta's Municipal Option Sales Tax, are expected to
rise."
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Bluefield Research, (617) 910 2540, bluefieldresearch.com

Subsite Adds Camera Inspection Capabilities With RST Acquisition
Subsite Electronics, a Charles Machine
Works Company, has acquired the assets
of R.S. Technical Services Inc. (RST), an
innovator in the design and manufacture
of closed-circuit television remote inspection and monitoring cameras. The deal
adds proven camera inspection capabilities
to Subsite's robust line of "Underground
Awareness" solutions.
"This acquisition adds a significant offering for lining contractors and municipalities in the rehab and replacement market,
broadening our solutions in the life cycle of the pipe," said Rick Johnson, CEO of Charles
Machine Works. "It will also help support our current HDD customers, who are diversifying into areas like cross bore inspection work."
RST camera systems feature single conductor technology, which accommodates all
power feed and return functions in a single cable. Past RST innovations include the first
true pan-tilt camera with tracking lights from a U.S. manufacturer, the first steerable
storm drain tractor or large pipeline tractor, the first single conductor laser and sonar
profiling systems, and many more.
Subsite provides underground construction professionals a comprehensive suite of
electronic products, including utility locators, horizontal directional drilling (HDD)
guidance equipment and equipment machine controls.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Subsite Electronics, (800) 846-2713, subsite.com

http://www.ucononline.com http://www.bluefieldresearch.com http://www.subsite.com

Underground Construction - August 2017

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