subject: Water Infrastructure - Creative Thinking Creating Better Environments [print this page] Water Infrastructure - Creative Thinking Creating Better Environments
Being a central component in the economic development of all civilisations, water and water infrastructure continues to be at the forefront of governmental and private development. With the increasing pressures being placed on the reliable supply of healthy water due to increases in population, even greater impetus is being placed on the implementation of innovative and cost effective water infrastructure solutions. In developing nations, the infrastructure is often lacking; and where it does exist, it is often rudimentary. However, it is not only transitional economies that are searching for innovative water infrastructure solutions. Developed nations who currently have large stocks of water infrastructure in place are now experiencing issues with degradation and reliability of such structures, with the need for constant and expensive programs of maintenance and upgrading becoming commonplace. For both developed and developing nations, innovative solutions are required to supply clean and healthy water, which is reliable and cost effective.
One of the most critical issues for modern economies in relation to water infrastructure is how to maintain and improve the current stock of water networks. If these are not maintained, the social, economic and health benefits from the supply of clean water will be jeopardised. Issues arising with the current water infrastructure, such as aging pipes and waste water structure, outdated treatment systems and an inadequate capacity to meet the growing demands that an increasing population base places on such necessities, requires large investments by governmental and private organisations to ensure the operation and longevity of water supplies. Along with the construction of new water infrastructure, there is a need to implement cost effective strategies that "think outside of the box" to address the increasing bills associated with the maintenance of the current and future water infrastructure.
Leading engineering agencies are stepping up their efforts to provide innovative solutions to the design, construction and maintenance of water assets. With the importance of water infrastructure to the economic and social well being of the nation, only the most experienced of engineering firms that instil creative thinking in their projects to create better environments should be employed in such a process. Innovative solutions are required that not only create cost effective solutions for the design and construction of new water infrastructural systems, but their continued maintenance. Only those firms that have a proven track record of implementing such large scale developments should be considered when approving the large budgets required to drive these developments.
