Ensuring clean water through quality water infrastructure
A significant portion of the infrastructure in the U.S. is water infrastructure. This includes piping systems that supply homes and businesses with drinking water and a way to carry wastewater away from these places.
Highly-trained and highly-skilled Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 529 members can modernize our community’s pipe systems. Local 529 and our signatory contractors favor infrastructure legislation that includes replacing old pipes and modernizing the region’s water infrastructure.
At the rate the U.S., and especially the Waco area, is projected to grow in population, the current pipe systems in many states and towns will not be able to handle the expected load.
We have seen the effects of old and mismanaged piping systems throughout the nation, with Flint, Mich., being a prime example. When pipes are contaminated or are not adequately maintained or replaced, it can devastate the environment and our local community.
Due to corrosion and mismanagement, water main breaks are inevitable. This requires a costly cleanup and inconveniences all who rely on these systems.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has published some frightening information regarding the need to modernize the water infrastructure systems of America. They estimate that the U.S. loses seven billion gallons of water a year due to leaking pipes, which will cost at least $1 trillion to fix.
Creating jobs for pipe tradesmen and tradeswomen by investing in water infrastructure
Just like the New Deal put massive amounts of Americans to work on infrastructure projects throughout the country, modernizing our water infrastructure will do the same. The amount of work that needs to be done is massive, and the tradesmen and tradeswomen who complete this work earn a family-supporting wage and excellent fringe benefits.
The number of jobs created would be in the tens of thousands per $1 billion spent and this number could be increased if American-made products and materials are used on the projects.
The pipe trades industry is seeing a great need for new tradesmen and tradeswomen to join the ranks. Local 529 and our signatory contractors spend a large amount of money on training and stand ready to train tradesmen and tradeswomen for this work. Water infrastructure projects could be the boost needed to show people that there is a high volume of work in the industry and that it is a viable career.
