Underground Infrastructure - June 2023 - 44

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for bringing clarity in helping engineers design
long-life, leak-free systems, plus we are a very
durable group as evidenced by our longevity. "
" The formation of the MAB within PPI was
a game-changer, as far as identifying the
resources needed by municipalities considering
use of HDPE piping systems, " said David M. Fink,
president of PPI.
" MAB supports the utilities and PPI in
the development of installation guidelines,
calculators, and education for advancing the
proper use of HDPE piping systems. These
tools have further advanced the opportunities
for the correct design, installation, and
operation of HDPE piping systems. "
The updated AWWA C904-22 can help installers meet
the rapidly growing need to replace lead pipes with
PEX. Photo courtesy of PPI-member company REHAU.
Scholarship honors
utility chief engineer
In other news, the MAB created a scholarship
program in the name of Eric Shaffer, chief
engineer at City of Duluth, Minnesota.
A nationally recognized expert on highMAB
members celebrate the group's 15th year
anniversary at its recent meeting.
density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe for potable
water and wastewater systems, Shaffer was a
long-time volunteer and contributing member of
the MAB. He passed away in January 2023 from
injuries sustained in a snowmobile accident.
When attendance is approved by the utility,
the Eric Shaffer Memorial Award pays the tuition
for the MAB-conducted Fusion Seminar where
students learn from experts and receive handson
training in the proper fusion and electrofusion
methods for HDPE water piping systems.
" Eric Shaffer was a stalwart of our industry, "
said Rubeiz. " For more than a decade, Eric was
an integral part of MAB, tirelessly giving his time
and expertise to improve the water systems of
not only Duluth but our entire country.
" MAB members sought a way to honor his
contributions and unanimously agreed that
a scholarship program would enable more
students to attend the Fusion Seminar program
he helped to create. "
In addition to his MAB work, Shaffer was a
Eric Shaffer
key, long-time member of the City of Duluth.
" He leaves a legacy that is hiding in plain site
that impacts each and every citizen in the city, "
said City of Duluth Mayor Emily Larson. " Water
towers, sanitary sewer lift stations, improvements
to the Lakewood water treatment plant,
and the removal of lead drinking water pipes are
just a few of the projects he was involved in. "
" Eric also always wanted to educate others.
The Eric Shaffer Memorial Award pays the tuition
for the MAB-conducted Fusion Seminar, which
Shaffer helped create.
44 JUNE 2023 | UndergroundInfrastructure.com
So, it is very fitting that we honor him by
enabling operators to heighten their HDPE
knowledge and skills with this scholarship
fund, " said Luis Aguiar, MAB co-chair and
co-founder, senior associate with Hazen &
Sawyer's Miami-Fort Lauderdale area office and
previously assistant director-water operations at
Miami-Dade Water & Sewer.
The MAB-NWTC Fusion Seminars include
training on 4-inch DIPS high-density polyethylene
(HDPE) water piping systems using both
manual and hydraulic butt fusion procedures
and electrofusion of couplers and saddles.
Developed for HDPE utility operators, inspectors,
engineers and other employees, with littleto-no
prior fusion experience, the curriculum is
presented by experts in the plastic pipe industry.
Topics covered via traditional and mostly
hands-on instruction, include standard electrofusion
with couplers, standard electrofusion for
saddles, manual butt fusion, using a hydraulic
butt fusion machine, and MAB-accepted standards
and qualifications for water utility work.
Woolpert
woolpert.com
The city of Greeley, Colo., has gone live with
its Cityworks Asset Management System
(AMS), implemented by Woolpert, the Dayton,
Ohio-based premier architecture, engineering,
geospatial (AEG), and strategic consulting firm.
The implementation provides an enterprise-wide
platform for managing assets through
system-based activity, cost, and document
tracking for the Greeley Water and Sewer
Department. The department includes two water
treatment plants, a water reclamation or wastewater
treatment plant, and nine water reservoirs.
The growing city of more than 100,000,
located 60 miles northeast of Denver, treats and
distributes nearly 9 billion gallons of water over
500 million miles of pipeline annually.
Woolpert's Asset Management Plan provides
a framework for strategically approaching asset
operation and maintenance decisions in a proactive
fashion. Previously, each city department
employed independent work management
systems with different capabilities, workflows,
and requirements.
" We were originally hired to do an AMS implementation
... but during negotiations, it became
clear that the city had greater asset management
aspirations, " said Jeff Pesler, program
director at Woolpert. " So, we worked with them
to architect an asset management program that
provides a structured and strategic approach
to making data-driven decisions that make the
most of capital and operating budgets. "
http://www.woolpert.com http://www.UndergroundInfrastructure.com
Underground Infrastructure - June 2023

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