In recent discussions with community water system operators across Illinois, the Corrosion Illinois Network found that the biggest challenges communities often face in maintaining safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater treatment systems are identifying and planning for maintenance needs and securing project funding.

Both challenges will be addressed in an upcoming “lunch and learn” program to be presented by the CIN on March 9, 2022.  The program, entitled “Water Solutions,” will dive deeply into the maintenance and repair challenges familiar to water system operators and the municipal officials charged with overseeing community water systems. 

The program, to be held at the Painters District Council No. 30 facility in Aurora, will include informative presentations by corrosion industry leaders on issues that impact all drinking water and wastewater systems, including the high – often hidden – costs of corrosion and what communities can do to maintain their water system assets in good working order.  Additionally, the program will provide guidance and insights on how proper maintenance planning can help significantly reduce operating costs – as well as how communities can prepare to successfully apply for water system project funding.

The program is the first in a series that the CIN plans to replicate across the state.  According to CIN executive director, Todd Dotson, “These issues – maintenance and project funding – are faced by all communities, no matter how big or small.  The role of the CIN is to help give communities the upper hand on corrosion, with the tools to deal with it and, ultimately, to stop it before it starts.”

Dotson notes that developing resilient water infrastructure is key to helping communities reduce water utility costs and capital expenses, safeguard public health, and position themselves for growth. 

Attendees at the Water Solutions event will also enjoy opportunities to network with colleagues over coffee and lunch.  Additionally, the nationally accredited North Central Illinois Finishing Trades Institute – housed in the Aurora facility – will offer tours of their state-of-the-art training facility, where teaching staff utilize sophisticated instructional tools to train finishing trades workers in the highly specialized techniques of surface preparation and industrial coatings application on steel and concrete surfaces such as those found in water towers and bridges.

This event is free, but registration is required, and space is limited.  For more information and to register, visit the event registration page.