This week marks 50 years since Congress passed the Clean Water Act, but people in some communities across the U.S. don’t have adequate access to a safe and reliable water supply. RK&K recognizes “Imagine a Day Without Water,” celebrated every October 20th, and the organization’s mission to provide more equitable water investment.
Today is our 8th annual #ImagineADayWithoutWater National Day of Action! Join people across the country coming together to reflect on, raise awareness about, and seek solutions to ensure equitable access to safe, reliable, and sustainable water for all💧 /1 pic.twitter.com/cte4QsxuNf
— The Value of Water (@TheValueofWater) October 20, 2022
Throughout 2022 communities across the country have experienced devastating impacts on their water supply due to natural disasters and crumbling infrastructure. In one of the areas hardest hit, West Virginia, RK&K’s water/wastewater team is actively working with communities to improve access to clean water.
RK&K is providing construction management and inspection, design, bidding assistance, and permitting support for the $11 million water system replacement project currently under construction in the New Creek community. The project provides critical system upgrades to serve residents, businesses, and a hospital in the area, which has seen a 31% water loss due to failing infrastructure.
Construction crews work on replacing the water system for the New Creek, West Virginia community. RK&K is providing construction management and inspection, design, bidding assistance, and permitting support for the $11 million project.
Construction crews work on replacing the water system for the New Creek, West Virginia community. RK&K is providing construction management and inspection, design, bidding assistance, and permitting support for the $11 million project.
Construction crews work on replacing the water system for the New Creek, West Virginia community. RK&K is providing construction management and inspection, design, bidding assistance, and permitting support for the $11 million project.
Construction crews work on replacing the water system for the New Creek, West Virginia community. RK&K is providing construction management and inspection, design, bidding assistance, and permitting support for the $11 million project.
Construction crews work on replacing the water system for the New Creek, West Virginia community. RK&K is providing construction management and inspection, design, bidding assistance, and permitting support for the $11 million project.Our water/wastewater team is also finalizing the design, as well as providing construction and inspection services for a $3 million county-wide water project near the Community of Burlington in Mineral County. That project will provide water service to currently unserved users in the Parrill Hollow Road area who have failing wells running dry or poor water quality.
“I have personal experience with disruptions in reliable water at my home as the public utility that serves me experiences frequent leaks to their aging distribution system, however, my disruptions are very minor in nature when compared to others,” said Senior Project Delivery Leader John Cole, PE. “I’ve been involved with projects where the homeowner’s wells have been contaminated or run dry requiring the need to haul water until public water becomes available.”
RK&K is currently designing a $4.4 million water system improvement project for the Paw Paw community to replace their aging and antiquated water treatment plant equipment. Additional water mains and a secondary water source will be installed to improve water quality within the distribution system.
“It’s a privilege to be part of a team of professional services serving those in need of good quality water — from addressing failing infrastructure or extending public water to unserved areas.”Senior Project Delivery Leader John Cole, PE
When a community experiences water contamination or shortages, people have no water to drink, prepare meals, bathe their children, wash their hands, flush the toilet, or do laundry. Firefighters can’t put out fires, and farmers cannot water their crops. Hospitals would close without water.
Cole said various funding agencies involved with public water recognize the situation facing the country and are making the necessary funds available to help those in need. He also described what it means to the team to help provide a safe and reliable water source.
“It’s a privilege to be part of a team of professional services serving those in need of good quality water from addressing failing infrastructure or extending public water to unserved areas,” Cole added.
