Past Chair Message: The Impact of the Passage of Time

It is sobering to think I began my first year on the board with a son that was 9 and after this final year, he will be driving an automobile. During the last 5 years, we have survived the great recession! Many things have changed. But more important than that, many things are the same. People still drink water and water our lawns. Even with a pinch in the economy, we still expect water to be potable and reliable. Great customer service is a key ingredient to our interaction with the public at large. Our organization continues to serve the industry with an army of passionate volunteers that seek ways to find robust and sustainable means to provide clean safe drinking water to our industry. Over the past 5 years, the accomplishments of our section are impressive. Every council and committee has expanded their scope and impact. Water related issues continue to be more prevalent topics in the press, the legislature and funding discussions.

You and I might be five years older, but so is our water infrastructure. Too bad it is not just an inert and static element. A functioning water system is laden with mechanical parts and dynamic forces. Our aging infrastructure will continue to require more reinvestment monies as we maintain the same level of service that our customers have come to expect.

My father has spent the last year running the water system for the Republic of Palau. They sell water at $1.17 per 1000 gallons and collect surface water into a dam before it is treated and distributed through the system. For a tropical place, they still have a per capita consumption of over 300 gallons per person per day due largely to widespread leaks in the system. For a system that was largely installed by the Japanese in the late 1930's and early years of World Water II, is beyond it's design life and represents a considerable challenge to the future of the country. In the coming decades, to what extent will we push the envelop on the expected design life of our water infrastructure within our Intermountain Region?

I am proud of our sections accomplishments. We continue to be the highlight destination of our national officers. Thanks, in no small part, to the wonderful organization and attention to detail of our great conference program and committee members. And a special thanks to our presenters and exhibitors. I am always amazed at how many things are happening behind the scenes among our council's and committees.

AWWA is a proactive and dynamic organization that interacts with the entire water community in a myriad of significant capacities. It is at the forefront of our water industry. It is more than just the authoritative resource of the water industry. It is a total water solution. Thank you very much for the opportunity to serve as chair of the association this past year. It has been a privilege to work with so many great people in our industry. Claudia Wheeler comes to the board with an in-depth perspective from a large water utility. I look forward to her leadership and insights.

Thank you for the opportunity to be a part of your organization.

Brad Gilson