For Openers: Cleaning Out the Inbox

Assorted industry happenings are presented in this month's column.

Drill Rig Seminar This Fall

Schramm Inc. has scheduled a seminar focusing on top head drill rig operation, troubleshooting, maintenance and service to be held Nov. 13-15, 2006, at the company's West Chester, Pa., factory headquarters. The seminar is offered free of charge to qualified industry personnel, and is instructed by Schramm's service personnel. For complete registration information, visit www.schramminc.com or telephone 610-696-2500.

Three Lucky Winners

Congratulations are in order for the winners of the drawings held in conjunction with National Driller's recent Brand Awareness surveys. All respondents to any of our three surveys on drill rigs, pumps and hammers were eligible for the drawings for $100 American Express gift checks.

The fortunate threesome:

Don Watson of LaGrange, Ga.
Tom Stover of Ringoes, N.J.
Michael Daisey of Frankford, Del.

A.Y. McDonald Buys Foundry

Dubuque, Iowa-based-A.Y. McDonald has acquired Cambridge Brass of Cambridge, Ontario. The transaction was completed just

last month between McDonald and Masco Corp. of Taylor, Mich., parent company of Cambridge Brass. Cambridge Brass is a manufacturer of water works service brass valves and fittings similar to A.Y. Mc-Donald and is the market leader in Canada.

Roy Sherman, A.Y. McDonald chairman, states, “At our core, we are a foundry, and this acquisition strengthens our core. We look for solid companies in our industry with growth potential that can run independently. Cambridge Brass is a company with strong management and dedicated employees. Each company will continue to be operated independently with separate management, market strategies and sales forces.”

Water-related Legislative Matters Making the News

Space being tight this issue, we won't be giving you the regular “Legislative Update” department. In order to preempt any mass uproar of protest, we're presenting a condensed, “Readers Digest”-type version here, compiled and edited by the versatile Caroline Mims of our Florida office.

Finalized Ground Water Rule - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is considering seven additional studies to finalize the Ground Water Rule that was proposed in May 2000 and is scheduled to be promulgated in August. The new studies will address pathogens and fecal-contamination indicators, complementing the 16 earlier studies considered for the proposed rule.

Infrastructure Improvement - Legislation was introduced in the U.S. Senate to address the deteriorating conditions of the nation's drinking water systems, roads, bridges and other public works by establishing a National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States. The seven-member commission is charged with ensuring that the nation's infrastructure meets current and future demands and facilitates economic growth. The commission must submit a report to Congress in February 2009 to detail infrastructure legislation and administrative actions deemed necessary for the following five, 10, 15, 30 and 50 years. The study must include capacity, age and condition of public infrastructure; repair and maintenance needs; financing methods and investment requirements. Recommendations on federal infrastructure program priorities must be included as well. The National Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2006 defines infrastructure as nonmilitary facilities, including water supply and distribution systems, wastewater collection and treatment facilities, surface transportation facilities, mass-transit facilities, airports or airway facilities, resource recovery facilities, waterways, levees and related flood-control facilities, docks or ports, school buildings and solid-waste disposal facilities.

Perchlorate Standard - Massachusetts will become the first state to propose drinking water and cleanup standards for the chemical perchlorate. The standard of two parts per billion would be much stricter than those suggested by other states, the EPA and the U.S. military, which is the primary user of perchlorate. The proposed standard still must undergo a required public comment period.

Well Contamination - Wisconsin lawmakers have passed legislation that would qualify some people for state aid whose wells have been contaminated by bacteria. Under the measure, families whose annual household income in less than $65,000 could be reimbursed up to $9,000 toward the cost of replacing a well contaminated by certain types of bacteria. As Wisconsin's Well Compensation Program currently is structured, the state provides money to drill a new well only when the well is contaminated by chemical pollutants. The new measure adds E. coli bacteria as a qualifying contamination source. A 2002 study made by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point found that approximately 20 percent of rural wells in many Wisconsin counties test positive for bacteria.

Desmond

Personnel Notes

Neil Desmond of Pentair in Sheboygan, Wis., has been elected to a one-year term as president of the Water Quality Association.

Flint & Walling Inc. announces the appointment of Scott Lechner as president.

Douglas Bingler and Rusty Simeone recently receive Goulds Pumps' Golden Eagle Award - the company's oldest and most prestigious honor for management, sales and marketing excellence.