Waterworks infrastructure is essential for our health and well-being. Working with engineers on projects brings many benefits, particularly regarding innovation and resilience. When public health is at stake, having the right team of professionals is essential.

After a challenging couple of years plagued with post-pandemic effects, unprecedented weather events and supply-chain disruption, November of 2021 served as a hopeful turning point for the waterworks sector with the passing of the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — the largest investment in water in history, according to the American Waterworks Association’s 2022 State of the Waterworks Industry report (SOTWI).

Founded in 1940, Brown Supply is a leading distributor of waterworks products such as water/sewer pipes, fire hydrants, marking flags, equipment and supplies with four locations across Iowa.

How many people reach a point to celebrate five complete decades working in the same industry? Better yet, who remembers the exact date they began their career? Bonomi Valves’ Rick Wentzell does. On Oct. 1, 1971, Wentzell began his career in the PVF industry and since that time has grown passionate about creating product, figuring out how best to sell it, and now, training the folks coming up.

The WASDA Board of Directors reviewed and discussed several options for the WASDA Annual Meeting (February 21 – 24, 2021) in Naples, Florida. In so doing, the leadership considered many factors, including the following: participation levels, the economy, consumer confidence, travel restrictions, fiscal responsibility, potential liability, possible additional outbreaks of COVID-19 and the tenor of the attendee experience, WASDA noted.