This Stuff Is Sexy

Infrastructure.  There.  It doesn't get sexier than that this side of Chris Hemsworth. Seriously.

Yeah, ok, most people don't think of infrastructure as sexy.  Most people don't think of it AT ALL.  Heck, a lot of people probably don't know what infrastructure is.  Don't feel bad if that's you.  You're in good company.

So here's the thing.  Whether or not you think it's sexy (but haven't you ever seen a bridge backlit by a glorious sunset?) infrastructure is the backbone of your daily life and things would be radically 
different without it.

Clean water is something we take for granted as a first-world country.  Most of us have never experienced a time when we didn't have safe, clean water at the turn of a tap.  So, how does it get there?  Source development, conveyance, treatment, storage and more conveyance, that's how.  Pipelines and reservoirs and wells and treatment plants and pump stations.  Then there's recycled, reclaimed and wastewater.  More pipelines, treatment, etc.

How about roads?  We like to complain about potholes (potholes are NOT sexy) and everyone hates traffic.  Why can't they just build more lanes so we don't have to rot on long, skinny parking lots every day?  Because it takes time and money.  The time can be dealt with.  It's the money.  There is no sustainable source of transportation funding at the Federal level and in many states, including California.  So the roads continue to deteriorate, traffic gets worse, and nothing gets done, except by the local transportation agencies.

Over 60%  of the bridges in the United States are in a critical state of disrepair.  The California State Water Project, which brings water to the thirsty Southern California region from the northern part of the state, is nearly 60 years old.  The Aqueduct leaks millions of gallons of water a year.  The American Society of Civil Engineering issues an annual report card of the state of infrastructure in the country.  In 2013 the national grade was D+.

The problem is this: infrastructure isn't politically sexy.  Heck, an alarming number of state and local elected officials don't have a good understanding of what it is and what happens if we continue to ignore it.  Sure, it's been bandied about at the federal level but there is no real conviction behind the words.  Too often aging infrastructure is used as a scare tactic.

Politicians aren't likely to take our crumbling infrastructure seriously until their constituents do.  Constituents won't make an issue of it until the dams start leaking, bridges start falling and we can't get water from the tap.
  
by Beth George

The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author

Converse Consultants is an industry leader in geotechnical engineering, and environmental, groundwater and materials sciences. We are celebrating our 70th year of service.

For more information about Converse please contact Beth George at bgeorge@converseconsultants.com