Baltimore Chapter President Passes Away

On Monday night, John Jung, Baltimore Chapter president and Baltimore Chapter charter member, suffered a heart attack and passed away. Memorial donations can be made to the American Heart Association, 415 N. Charles Street, Baltimore, MD  21201. Our prayers and thoughts are with John’s family and friends.

Mark Your Calendar for ASPE’s First 2010 Webinar: How to Use BIM

On Wednesday, January 13, 2010, ASPE will present a one-hour webinar on “BIM: Content Creation for Plumbing BIM Models Using Revit MEP 2010.” Marvin Titlow from Michael Brady Inc. will teach participants how to create and use custom riser assemblies, modify out-of-the-box plumbing fixtures for scheduling purposes, and create customized families to help with plumbing calculations. Registration opens next week on the new ASPE.org website.

Articles on Medical and Laboratory Plumbing Systems Needed

PS&D magazine seeks authors of articles on the following topics: medical gas systems, BSL-4 laboratory piping/plumbing systems, and food processing plant plumbing systems. Articles can be in the form of a case study. If you are interested in submitting an article on one of these topics, send a brief proposal to Managing Editor Gretchen Pienta.

Join Us for the ASPE Open House

NOTE DATE CHANGE: On Friday, January 22, 2010, ASPE will be holding its official Open House at the new ASPE headquarters building at 2980 S. River Road in Des Plaines, Illinois. If you will be in the Chicago area, please join us from 4–7 p.m. for drinks, appetizers, and camaraderie.

Start Planning Now for Next Year’s Biggest Plumbing Industry Event

The 2010 ASPE Convention and Engineered Plumbing Exposition will be held in Philadelphia, October 30 through November 3. In addition to dynamic professional development sessions, the biggest plumbing product exhibition in the country, and numerous social events, all attendees will have the chance to win a new car, so start planning today!

ASPE College of Fellows Is Accepting Nominations

The ASPE Kenneth G. Wentink College of Fellows honors ASPE members of established reputation who have made significant, sustained contributions to the plumbing engineering profession, the Society, or the plumbing industry in the areas of contracting or manufacturing. Any Society member may nominate any other member, but members may not nominate themselves. Click here for more information and nomination forms.

ASPE Archived Webinars Offer CEUs

Click here to access ASPE archived webinars, which allows you to view and listen to previously recorded events at a time that is most convenient for you. Pay a small fee to earn quick CEUs.

EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

December 5: Washington, D.C., Chapter 40th Anniversary Party

ASPE’s Washington, D.C., Chapter will be holding this celebration aboard the Sprit of Washington at 11:30 a.m. Gifts and door prizes will be offered. Contact Juan Rojas for more information.

December 9: San Francisco Christmas Party

ASPE’s San Francisco Chapter will be holding its annual Christmas Party at Sinbad’s Restaurant on Pier #2 and Embarcadero. Everyone is invited for appetizers, dinner, live music, and dancing. Contact Pius Kao for more information.

December 10: Phoenix Product Show

ASPE’s Phoenix Chapter, with the ASHRAE Central Arizona Chapter, is holding this event at the El Zaribah Shrine Auditorium from 5–8 p.m. A free buffet, cash bar, and technical sessions with PDH credit will be offered. Contact Ben Madsen for more information.

December 11: Central Ohio Holiday Party

ASPE’s Central Ohio Chapter is holding its annual holiday party at the Buckeye Hall of Fame Café in Columbus, Ohio, from 12–2 p.m. Spouses and guest are welcome. Cost is $20, which includes two drink tickets. Attendees are encouraged to bring a $10 or less wrapped gift for a blind exchange. View the chapter’s newsletter (page 4) for more information.

December 16: Johnstown Chapter Show and Tell Holiday Social

ASPE’s Johnstown Chapter’s annual holiday Show and Tell meeting will be held at Rizzo’s Italian Restaurant in Windber, Pennsylvania. Five-minute show and tell presentation slots are available for reservation, as well as an Italian dinner and raffles for attendees. Contact Steve Kormanik for more information.

December 16: Baltimore Holiday Party

ASPE’s Baltimore Chapter is holding its annual Holiday Party at the Bowman Restaurant from 6–9 p.m. Appetizers and drinks will be provided. Attendees are asked to bring one new unwrapped toy as a donation to Toys for Tots. Contact Ben Ploskonto RSVP.

NEW! CPD Review Classes Start in Rochester on January 6

A group of designers in the Rochester, New York, area will be holding CPD review sessions every other Wednesday from 5:30–7 p.m. at M/E Engineering P.C. (150 North Chestnut Street, Rochester). Contact Bonnie McClellan for more information.

NEW! Interim Meeting for Proposed Seattle Chapter Being Held January 12

The third and final interim meeting for the proposed ASPE Seattle Chapter will be held at the Rock Bottom Brewery in downtown Seattle from 5:30–8:30 p.m. For more information, contact Patrick Cooper.

NEW! Omaha After-Holiday Party Being Held January 16

ASPE's Omaha Chapter is holding its annual After-Holiday Party at Valentino's from 7:30–9 p.m., followed by bowling next door at Maplewood Lanes promptly at 9:30 p.m. Contact Mike Gregory to RSVP.

NEW! Central Florida Paintball Battle Being Held February 6

ASPE’s Central Florida Chapter is holding this all-day event at Full-Throttle Paintball in Lake Helen, Florida. Anyone over the age of 10 is invited. Cost is $40. RSVP to Chris Farr.

NEW! Houston Product Show Being Held April 7

The ASPE Houston Chapter’s Product Show will be held in the Pavilion Center of the Sam Houston Race Park from 4:00–8:30 p.m. The booth preregistration deadline is Dec. 31. All booth spaces not reserved will be made available to all other exhibitors on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact Jim Ivey (713-780-1600) for more information.

INDUSTRY NEWS
Lose the Fat to Curtail Sewer Overflows

North Carolina State University is launching a new project with funding from the U.S. EPA that targets the fat and grease that contribute to millions of sewer overflows every year. The EPA estimates that 40 percent of the 3 to 10 billion annual sanitary sewer overflows around the country are caused by hard deposits made up of FOG that clog sewage pipes. The goal of the research is to discover the fundamental chemical reactions that lead to these deposits to develop enhanced treatment technologies, more cost-effective maintenance, and appropriate regulatory standards.

Rule to Reduce Water Pollution from Construction Sites Issued

The U.S. EPA recently issued a final rule to help reduce water pollution from construction sites. This rule takes effect in February 2010 and will be phased in over four years, and it is hoped to significantly improve the quality of water nationwide. The final rule requires construction site owners and operators that disturb one or more acres to use best management practices to ensure that soil disturbed during construction activity does not pollute nearby water bodies. In addition, owners and operators of sites that impact 10 or more acres of land at one time will be required to monitor discharges and ensure they comply with specific limits on discharges to minimize the impact on nearby water bodies.

Illinois to Poison Chicago Canal to Kill Carp

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources has announced a plan to dump Rotenone, a potent fish-killing chemical, into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal to kill Asian carp to keep them from infiltrating the Great Lakes. While it is toxic to fish, Rotenone is not considered a threat to people or wildlife. Water quality experts from the Illinois EPA will monitor water quality downstream to ensure that the chemical doesn't drift beyond the targeted area. Boat traffic in the canal will be prohibited during the five-day process.

Green Building May Create 8 Million Jobs by 2013

According to Green Jobs Study, about $554 billion will be spent between 2009 and 2013 on the construction of buildings that have multiple sustainable features or are LEED certified, and 7.9 million jobs will be created to construct these buildings. From 2000 to 2008, development of green buildings contributed $178 billion to the economy and accounted for 2.4 million U.S. jobs, says the report.

Texas Mulls Plan to Dump Treated Sewage into Lakes

State environmental officials are considering a controversial plan to allow millions of gallons of treated sewage to be dumped into several popular central Texas lakes. The cities of Leander and Granite Shoals asked the state to lift a 23-year-old ban on discharges of effluent into the Highland Lakes because it's cheaper to dump the waste in the lakes rather than use it for irrigation or other land-based applications.

Federal Judge Finds Army Corps of Engineers Liable for New Orleans Flooding

On Nov. 18, Judge Stanwood R. Duval Jr. of the Federal District Court found that poor maintenance of the Mississippi River-Gulf Outlet navigation channel by the Army Corps of Engineers led to the flooding of the Lower Ninth Ward in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. If upheld, the ruling could force the federal government to pay tens of millions of dollars, if not more, to homeowners whose property was lost or damaged.

Canadian Water Summit Declares Governments Must Act to Protect Water

A national water policy and a clear commitment from all levels of government are needed to protect Canadians' right to water, according to a declaration from last weekend's Blue Summit, a national conference on water issues. In particular, the declaration calls on governments to recognize the water rights of Aboriginal communities and work with First Nations to end the on-reserve water and sanitation crisis; ensure public ownership, operation, and delivery of water and sanitation services; establish pan-Canadian enforceable drinking water standards; and protect water from global market exploitation by excluding it from NAFTA and all future trade agreements.

U.S. Mayors to Meet with Federal Agencies on Water Issues

This week, U.S. mayors and federal agencies are meeting to discuss water infrastructure in cities, rivers, and watersheds during the Mayors Water Council Summit. The focus will be on the water policies of the current administration, the interface between water, energy, and green infrastructure, as well as the financial challenges imposed by unfunded federal mandates.

Water for People Wins International Recognition for Work in Africa

Water for People, a Denver-based nonprofit international development organization, recently was recognized by the African Ministers' Council on Water for its commitment to programs in Malawi, where it has been working since 2000 helping provide more than 200,000 beneficiaries with safe drinking water and improved sanitation. The organization works with communities and schools not only to provide clean drinking water and sanitation systems, but also to train community leaders to build, maintain, and sustain their own systems. One such program is known as "Sanitation as a Business" and allows for people to be trained as engineers and then be paid a fee for sustaining sanitation systems in their community. This gives money back to the community while ensuring that water systems are intact after Water for People leaves.

Report Focuses on Role of Sustainable Water Strategies

Green Buildings + Water Performanceis a comprehensive white paper on incorporating sustainable water strategies in today’s building designs and the how water-efficient technologies effectively meet the demands of commercial facilities. According to the survey conducted as the basis for the paper, in the next 18–24 months 64 percent of respondents said they expect to use dual-flush flush valves, 67 percent will use high-efficiency toilets, 78 percent project using high-efficiency lavatory faucets, 45 percent will use flush-free urinals, and 72 percent plan to use high-efficiency showerheads.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Three-inch PEX Tubing Now Available

Uponor is the first PEX manufacturer to offer 3-inch tubing for commercial plumbing applications. Uponor’s 3-inch AquaPEX tubing is available in 100-foot and 350-foot coils as well as 20-foot straight lengths, with custom-cut lengths also available to meet any application need.

Decorative Commercial Lavatory System Introduced

Bradley Corp. introduces its new refined Verge Lavatory System for high-end commercial restroom applications. It incorporates an elongated basin with a hidden drain and is made with Bradley’s Evero natural quartz material, a resilient natural composite that stands up well to high-traffic and everyday usage. The lavatory system utilizes small proportions, including a minimalist trap cover to conceal plumbing below.