Upgrading infrastructure to make drinking water safe is top priority among local governments as we start 2023

As we head into the new year, there continues to be a strong demand for lead service line replacement, says Rob Keady, senior vice president and municipal practice leader at T&M Associates, a technical services and consulting firm that often works with local governments. He adds that that strong demand has been ongoing for several years.

“Although no new lead service lines are being installed, many remain and are steadily being replaced due to health concerns. And water treatment plant upgrades to remove PFAS compounds from groundwater sources continue to be a high priority for cities and counties,” Keady tells Co-op Solutions. PFAS refers to per- and polyfluorinated substances, which are a group of chemicals used to make fluoropolymer coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water.

Lead service lines bring water to all areas, including residential, commercial, public, and municipal settings. Keady notes that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has encouraged communities to make replacing these lines a priority for infrastructure projects.

Keady’s company is involved in other environmental construction work. “We have been recently engaged by a municipality in Burlington County, N.J., to provide engineering services for the design and construction of new water treatment facilities for the remediation of PFAS contaminants. This will help ensure that drinking water remains safe and in compliance with N.J. Department of Environmental Protection guidelines for allowable contaminant levels.”

Keady notes that his firm already does a variety of projects in PFAS remediation, including determining the best and most cost-effective solutions, treatment plant evaluation, sampling, and groundwater modeling. “We also work closely with our clients to support them in managing the funding and community relations aspects of this issue.”

Keady says some clarity is needed regarding infrastructure dollars as we start the new year. “We don’t exactly know how the federal infrastructure funding will flow and become available.” He offers this advice: “As the infrastructure funding process becomes clearer, it will be important for municipal officials to familiarize themselves with the process and the entities involved. Unlike American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, which went directly to state and local governments, these infrastructure funds may require municipalities and their partners to allocate funding that can later be reimbursed through grants. This could be a challenge if a municipality has funding issues, such as a poor bond rating or high debt.”

Keady says the complex nature of the infrastructure funding process is a good reason for government jurisdictions to work with knowledgeable consultants. “This is why partners like T&M work so closely with our municipal clients to identify the funding opportunities, so that the community can benefit.”

Keady believes more local governments are using cooperative contracts to buy infrastructure products and services. “We are seeing a lot of municipalities going through cooperative contracts on projects such as sports fields and playgrounds. In some cases, they are able to purchase products and materials through an established cooperative contract or state contract, which enables faster delivery and installation as well as cost savings.” He adds that it is also becoming increasingly common for municipalities to prepare shared services plans with counties.

For local governments, T&M Associates serves as owners’ representative and construction manager during the building process. The company provides project management skills and discipline to thoroughly document projects and services for cities and counties. Some of the firm’s activities include:

• Keeping citizens moving efficiently by building and maintaining roadways,
• Mitigating flooding with adequate storm water management, and
• Improving the quality of life with recreational opportunities, such as parks and athletic fields.

T&M, a construction management and environmental engineering firm, has more than 55 years of experience and operates in 17 offices throughout the U.S. In 2023, Keady believes his company will continue to be involved in a variety of infrastructure projects. “In addition to oversight of lead line replacement, these include bridge construction and reconstruction, roadway reconstruction, storm water management and resiliency projects, and sewer rehabilitation, to name a few.”

Michael Keating is senior editor for American City & County. Contact him at [email protected].