WWEMA Window: Looking Back — Looking Ahead!
By Vince Baldasare
Once again, another year has quickly passed. I don’t know about you, but it seems that the older I get, the faster time slips away. I can’t believe my year as Chair of the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) is ending. I want to personally thank the team at WWEMA for an exceptional job executing our 2022 goals. I have not worked with a more talented and intelligent group of water advocates than Vanessa, Tina, and Susi. I admire their ability to accomplish what they do each day. The water industry is definitely better off with these three working for and on behalf of all premier water and wastewater equipment manufacturers and our industry more broadly, not only our members.
2022 will be known as the year of many simultaneously occurring challenging events in our industry. A year of exceptional growth coupled with challenges to meet that strong demand; a year of a still recovering and fragile supply chain; and the year we began to implement the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (or Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL)) and its Build America, Buy America (BABA) requirements. I don’t know about you, but I’m a bit exhausted from working so hard to respond to all these challenges; however, the upside is most events and chances to collaborate at trade shows and meetings are now in-person, so our learning and sharing have been able to continue much as they did pre-COVID. Instead of focusing on the negatives of these challenges, let’s focus on developing plans to meet these challenges. The rebuilding of our nation’s infrastructure that has resulted from collectively advocating for clean drinking water is one of our most important public health responsibilities. Ignoring the importance of maintaining access to clean drinking water can only make it more difficult for us to remain safe and free from illness and potential environmental harm.
A previous statement from a similar article I wrote last year, “we cannot take our eye off the ball during a time of unprecedented challenges but must instead stay focused on technological advances in equipment manufacturing and new product innovations” still applies. We must remain steadfast with the new normal, which has become our “new standard”, and keep driving forward. I am excited to see the growth in the water industry. Our aging infrastructure and our population growth has increased the need to press on with even more new product development with technological advances. I’m thankful for those of us involved in the municipal equipment manufacturing space and to our government leaders for earmarking important funds to support these efforts. The long-lasting positive effects the BIL will have is encouraging; this once-in-a-generation funding will result not only in health and environmental benefits, but overall economic benefits helping to secure the global competitiveness of the U.S. for decades to come.
Let me suggest we set aside any emotional and political opinions than many of us have as they relate to the new domestic content laws, and instead focus on the positive impacts that are well documented and include impacts on each one of us as we all benefit daily from clean and safe water. Although some feel the added BABA requirements are unnecessarily complex and burdensome and don’t necessarily agree with this national policy shift, it’s important to remember its goal is to promote domestic manufacturing. American-based manufacturers positioned in the municipal space with the ability to meet the BABA requirements should communicate their capabilities to federal agencies accordingly. Those manufacturers with specific issues that are currently finding compliance challenging are encouraged to do the same in a cooperative manner and work to find solutions. Overall, it will take time to re-shore or build new manufacturing in the U.S. so perhaps some limited extensions or waivers will be needed. The intent of the BIL is to create job opportunities for Americans and strengthen the overall domestic economy. We need to continue to keep pressure on our governmental leaders to support quality water and wastewater equipment funding and, if needed, some protracted timelines that support full BIL compliance so that public health and environmental protection aren’t jeopardized.
I want to thank everyone who supported my tenure as Chair of WWEMA! It was an exciting and humbling experience. I had the opportunity to collaborate with the leaders of the water industry and see firsthand their focus on clean water first, as opposed to growing a business simply to maximize profits. “Many Hands Make Light Work”. Without them, it could not happen, and I hope they will continue to support efforts to develop new technologies for clean water. The health, safety, and protection of our water supply is an ongoing challenge. We need to remain focused as leaders in the industry on the continued development of technology. We need continued governmental regulations, including the support of the EPA, to ensure the reduction of pollution in the bodies of water that supply our drinking water systems. More needs to happen. Become an advocate for safe drinking water and join or participate in an organization that advocates for clean water. WWEMA represents the interests of water and wastewater equipment manufacturers related to regulatory, legislative, and policy issues concerning clean water. WWEMA is the ‘voice of water and wastewater technology providers’. Its mission is to promote the advancement of technology solutions for clean water that ensure a future sustainable environment and to improve its members’ economic viability. I invite you to join us in our efforts!
Vince Baldasare is Sales Manager at The Gorman-Rupp Company as well as the 2022 Chairman of the Water and Wastewater Equipment Manufacturers Association (WWEMA) Board of Directors. WWEMA is a non-profit trade association that has been working for water and wastewater technology and service providers since 1908. WWEMA’s members supply the most sophisticated leading-edge technologies and services, offering solutions to every water-related environmental problem and need facing today’s society. For more information about WWEMA and membership benefits, visit www.wwema.org/membership.