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Official Magazine for the Pennsylvania Association of Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors
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You Can't Fix Everything With Policies page 6
Toolbox Talks: Ladder Safety page 12
ALWAYS...First In Class, ALWAYS built to last...
What you’ve come to Expect...
800-458-2226www.ReadingBody.com©2011 The Reading Group, LLC
Fall 2011 3
2011-2012 ExECuTIvE COMMITTEE
PRESIDENT TOM RICHESp o BoX 683chESTEr hEIghTS, pa 19017(610) 521-6654(484) 480-5176 [email protected]
PRESIDENT ELECTJOHN MCCUENp o BoX 517BrooMaLL, pa 19008(610) 325-9395(610) 355-7783 [email protected]
SECOND VICE PRESIDENTJONATHAN MOYER27 N 4Th STrEETDENVEr, pa 17517(717) 336-3454(717) 336-2171 [email protected]
SECRETARYJOHN LUKE2720 SToNEY crEEK roaDBrooMaLL, pa 19008(610) 853-9056(610) 999-8183 [email protected]
TREASURERTINA HEDRICK852 LIMErIcK roaDSchwENKSVILLE, pa 19473(610) 287-7831(610) 287-5459 [email protected]
PAST PRESIDENTWALT KRZYZANOWSKI3368 MILLEr STrEETphILaDELphIa, pa 19134(215) 739-6462(215) 739-6844 [email protected]
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARDDONALD R DUCK JR3416 wILLIaMSoN aVENUEBrooKhaVEN, pa 19015(610) [email protected]
NATIONAL DIRECTORJOSEPH SCHLUETER2533 E SharoN rD.cINcINNaTI, oh 45241-1890(513) 771-0514(513) 771-9115 [email protected]
PAPHCC BOARD MEMBERS
ALLENTOWNMIKE GILLETTE5050 pINE ST.SchNEcKSVILLE, pa 18078-2835 (610) 799-5455(610) 799-5455 [email protected]
AMPACMARTIN J FLAHERTY283 arDEN roaDpITTSBUrgh, pa 15234(412) 531-3948(412) 279-5070 [email protected]
BETHLEHEMKENNETH YOUNG60 E UNIoN BLVDBEThLEhEM, pa 18018(610) 867-5682(610) 867-5226 [email protected]
BUCKS COUNTYROGER CARNEY15 BEaVEr STrEEThULMEVILLE, pa 19047(215) 757-1900(215) 604-9932 [email protected]
CHESTER COUNTYJOHN GALLIGAN438 E KINg STrEETMaLVErN, pa 19355(610) [email protected]
LANCASTER COUNTYIVAN ZIMMERMAN17 E. MohLEr chUrch rDEphraTa, pa 17522(717) 738-2838(717) 738-0704 [email protected]
MONTGOMERY COUNTYSCOTT ZIEGLER856 LIMErIcK rD.SchwENKSVILLE, pa 19473(610) 487-5936(610) [email protected]
PHILADELPHIA MASTERSVINCENT MARZULLI8133 FraNKForD aVENUEphILaDELphIa, pa 19136(215) 338-4803(215) 331-6987 [email protected]
PHILADELPHIA SUBURBANJOHN LUKE2720 SToNEY crEEK roaDBrooMaLL, pa 19008(610) 853-9056(610) 999-8183 [email protected]
TRI-COUNTYCARL E FRANTZ JR3701 chaMBErSBUrg rDBIgLErVILLE, pa 17307(717) 334-3424(717) 334-6329 [email protected]
UAC 690 - (PHILADELPHIA REGION)WALT KRZYZANOWSKI3368 MILLEr STrEETphILaDELphIa, pa 19134(215) 739-6462(215) 739-6844 [email protected]
AT LARGEP RICHARD DENTp o BoX 1215 LIghTSTrEET, pa 17839(570) 784-4115(570) 784-6031 [email protected]
PAPHCC STAFF
EXECUTIVE DIRECTORMICHAEL MCGRAW(800) 220-7422 (484) 631-0533 [email protected]
WANNER ASSOCIATE EXECUTIVEKIMBERLY COSSAR(717) [email protected]
908 N. Second Streetharrisburg, pa 17102-3119phone: 800-220-7422Fax: 484-631-0533website: www.paphcc.org Table of Contents
Fall 2011 Vol. 7 No. 4
Publications ManagerSarah DiCello(717) [email protected]
Published byGraphtech(717) 238.5751
Design by2 Pug Design, Inc.(717) 685.1464
Sewage...Page 14
page 12
President’s Message ...............................4
Executive Director’s Message .................5
You Can't Fix Everything with Policies ....6
Toolbox Talks ........................................ 12
Sewage Overflow, Drinking
Water & Asian Carp Fish................... 14
Dear PA PHCC Members ......................17
Request for Support ............................. 18
Toolbox Talks
4 PA Contractor PaPHCC
President’s MessageTom Riches
WOW !!! An Earthquake… A Hurricane…. I warned everyone that strange things would happen if I became President !
Seriously now, I hope no members or their families were adversely affected by these events.
Also, seriously, these unusual events we have experienced recently and their lasting effects, in my mind, affirm the importance and value of the professional Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractor. We are on the front lines of helping the public in dealing with the results of these storms, especially those of us in the service/repair sector. Although it is a very difficult and frustrating event for our clients, they can put their mind more at ease when the use the proper contractor that will offer educated and honest solutions to their problem.
That is what being a PHCC member is all about to me. We are the leaders in our field through our educational programs and our access to new information and new products to best service our clients.
The truly exciting recent news for us here in Pennsylvania happened at our PHCC National Convention September 21-24 in Minneapolis. We are all very proud of Scott Shaver of Horn Plumbing in Exton who is the 2011 National Apprentice of the Year and Winner of the Apprentice Competition. He competed with plumbers from all over the U.S. Scott is a recent graduate of the Philadelphia Suburban Apprentice School in Folcroft PA and is a fine young man and a real credit to our industry. I know I can speak for all of us, the PA PHCC, his family, and his employer, that we are “Flush With Pride”. Our hearty congratulations to SCOTT!! I also want to take a moment to thank APR Supply for providing the PA PHCC a booth at the Trade Show in Hershey last month and for putting on a great show. We appreciate APR’s support of PA PHCC.
As always, I remind you of our focus on building membership. Please take time to talk about the benefits of PHCC membership to prospective members.
Sincerely,
Tom Riches
Fall 2011 5
Executive Director’s MessageMichael McGraw
I hope everyone had a nice summer and enjoyed your vacation (hopefully many of you got away for a day, days, week or weeks). Whichever it may have been, any day off to relax or spend with the family is a good day.
As we enter the last quarter of 2011, we must stand together in our fight for Senate Bill 747. I have received several calls from members asking “What is the status of statewide licensing?” SB 747 sits in the Senate Appropriations Committee awaiting its third and final reading on the Senate Floor. It is critical that when you receive an e-mail from me asking to write your Senator or Representative that you do so at the time you receive the e-mail. The more we keep this legislation in front of our legislators the more they will look into it and realize the importance of this legislation. It is alright to remind them more than once, after all I think they remind us more than once when they want to be put into or kept in office. PA PHCC is committed to the passage of this legislation. Believe me when I tell you, the passage of SB 747 will become the largest benefit of PA PHCC membership. Statewide Plumbing Licenses will ensure stability in the PHC Industry and most of all it will Protect the Consumer, who also is your Customer/Client. So please help PA PHCC support this legislation. We have supported various legislators through our PAC Fund. I am asking you to support our PAC Fund so that we can get SB 747 passed and move on to other ways for PA PHCC to benefit you and your company. Any amount you can afford is appreciated, even if it is only $5. I was always told anything is better than nothing. No difference here. Please fill out the form in this magazine today! Personal Checks Only
Membership is crucial to PA PHCC and its success. I am dedicated to seeking new members daily. I could use some help from you guys as well. All you need to do is tell a fellow contractor about PHCC and have him contact me or give me his contact information and I will do the rest. I will be making phone calls to all existing members before the end of the year. Just checking to see how things are going and see if I can help you and your company in anyway. All I ask is good or bad please answer truthfully. That is the only way PHCC can move forward.
Sincerely,
6 PA Contractor PaPHCC
Have you ever been faced with an issue and you could not find it in your employee handbook? While your hand-book is a good way to outline your overall policies for running the business, you cannot anticipate all the issues that might arise. It might be tempting to create a new policy whenever you are faced with an unusual situation,
but doing so might not be the best solution. Policies are important and serve as a valuable underpinning of your opera-tions. But having too many policies, or writing policies that address a narrow or specific situation, can backfire.
All companies, large or small, should have a policy hand-book. A good handbook helps you manage your business. It documents procedures and guidelines, defines the roles and responsibilities of both the organization and the employee, and sets expectations for how business is conducted at your company. When written well, policies help you:
• Ensure all employees are treated equally by consis-tently applying the policies.
• Save time necessary to research how a situation was handled in the past to avoid unintentionally address-ing situations differently.
• Communicate to employees what is expected of them regarding workplace behaviors and company assets.
• Describe what the organization provides including benefit programs such as paid time off or group insurance.
• Address how the organization will handle legally protected rights such as harassment or discrimina-tion.
• Reinforces organizational culture and values by both the tone and the structure of the policies.
You Can’t Fix Everything with PoliciesPrepared for the PHCC Educational Foundation by TPO, Inc.
Fall 2011 7
There are some things that you need to include such as Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) statements, Ameri-cans with Disability (ADA) language, anti-illegal harassment and discrimination policies, a drug free workplace state-ment and an acknowledgment that you comply with all applicable local, state and federal laws. If you operate in an “employment at will” state, be sure to add language strengthening your right to end unsatisfactory employment relationships at any time with or without cause.
The art of putting together a handbook is to include policies that guide employees towards knowing what is expected of them; to take the guess work out of the workplace. There is not a firm set of must have policies, thus you need to build what works best for you and your organization. Be sure to know your state and local laws. For example, whether you have to allow a rest or meal breaks varies by state. If you are a California employer, you have to provide a half-hour meal break during any work period of more than 5 hours per day; in North Carolina, you do not have to provide a break regardless of the length of the shift.
Keep your handbook simple. Start with the basics and only make it as long as necessary to clearly communicate expectations. Include the things that you get asked about most often like standard office hours, dress or uniform requirements, holiday and time off policies, and fringe benefits. Include not just what is offered but how an employee is expected to request and get approval for the applicable policy. You should note that management reserves the right to add or amend policies at any time with or without notice so when the need arises, you can add a new policy. Note that while you reserve the right to make changes without notice, you should quickly communicate policy changes in a manner that reaches all employees.
Well written policies should not lock you into detailed procedures that limit your discretion. Flexibility in handling specific situations is essential for you to be effective and successfully manage your organization. Phrasing policies carefully allows for some interpretation. For example, it’s common to list behaviors that constitute gross misconduct and warrant immediate termination. However, there are a few rare occasions where you may want to exercise discretion. Rather than say employees will be terminated for specific misconduct, state that employees may be involuntarily terminated immediately and without notice. You need the opportunity to do the right thing based upon the circumstances.
There are drawbacks to handbooks too. If not well thought out, the policies themselves can present challenges. The most common barriers organizations experience when implementing HR policies include:
Poorly Prepared Policies – If not enough time and effort is put into creating and implementing appropriate and meaningful HR policies, you may risk adding more confu-sion than clarity and support.
Ongoing Administration – While the biggest commitment is the initial time to create and implement HR policies, it is imperative that you allocate time to maintain and administer the policies. Laws change, your workforce changes, and your business needs change.
Inconsistent Application – While a handbook should explicitly declare that it is not a contract, practices that are inconsistent with your policies present problems and possibly legal challenges. If you cannot administer a policy, do not include it in the handbook. For example, many companies have great intentions of doing annual performance and compensation reviews so they include a policy in the handbook. Yet they get too busy and fail to follow through. The courts have heard from employees who felt they were promised the reviews and raises – and the courts agreed.
Focusing Only on Rights and Entitlements – Your staff may get lost in the rules. A list of “don’ts” and “musts” or too much legalese shuts off communication. Add purpose or give context for the policy. For example, rather than say “employees are prohibited from taking the day after a holiday off”, remind your team that “to make sure we can provide top service to our customers, time off on days immediately following a holiday is unavailable”.
It is unrealistic to expect that HR policies will solve all your employee relation problems. Even if you wanted to, you can’t come up with enough policies that cover every imaginable situation – and even if you could – don’t! Would you want to work for a company that dictates how and when you do everything? When a situation arises that raises the question, “should there be a policy for that?” stop and consider the following.
• Do we really need a policy for that? Some situations are complex and could never be covered in a policy. Others are so unlikely to happen again, it isn’t worth updating your handbook.
8 PA Contractor PaPHCC
• Does it apply to only a single employ-ee? Individual situations are better handled as performance issues. For example, if you have one employee who consistently returns from lunch late, that employee should be counseled rather than create a policy prohibiting tardiness from lunch breaks.
• Will I limit my flexibility in addressing this situation? Once you implement the policy, you have to abide by it in all future situations.
• Could a policy create ill will among other employees? A policy written to address a specific employee’s issue now places a burden on all employees, fermenting discord among coworkers and dissatisfaction with you.
• Will it look like I am avoiding dealing directly with the situation? Unwittingly, employers sometimes undermine themselves by not addressing issues directly or in a timely manner. In the worst situations, employees figure out the employer’s soft spot and take advantage of their bosses.
• Is creating a policy really just a way to not address the issue directly with the offending employee? It is human nature to avoid conflict and it might be nice to refer to a policy rather than take the situation head on. But policies are not a shield from managing and some situations demand your interpretation and decisions.
Policies cannot cover everything, nor should they. Regard-less, you need a good handbook that will assist you in running your business. Here are some final points to remember as you develop or update your handbook.
• Adhere to federal, state and local legislative require-ments; have an attorney review your handbook.
• When possible, involve employees in determining policies and ensure senior management supports the policy.
• Ensure policies fit with your organization’s culture; if you are an informal organization, avoid a highly structured handbook that looks like a government document.
• Remember that HR policies are living documents that should evolve and change with the organization as it grows and reacts to internal and external changes.
• Never let a policy get in the way of doing the right thing; keep your employees well-being at the fore-front when applying the policies. This does not mean always letting employees have special treatment. Rather, it means being flexible and considering that certain circumstances may call for an exception to the policy.
This content was developed for the PHCC Educational Foundation by TPO, Inc. (www.tpo-inc.com). Please consult your HR professional or attorney for further advice, as laws may differ in each state. Laws continue to evolve; the information presented is as of July 2011. Any omission or inclusion of incorrect data is unintentional.
The PHCC Educational Foundation, a partnership of contractors, manufacturers and wholesalers was founded in 1987 to serve the plumbing-heating-cooling industry by preparing contractors and their employees to meet the challenges of a constantly changing marketplace.
If you found this article helpful, please consider supporting the Foundation by making a contribution at http://www.foundation.phccweb.org/invest.
Federated Named to 2011 Ward 50® Top Performers
Federated Mutual Insurance Company and Federated Life Insurance Company have again been named to the 2011 Ward’s 50 lists of top performing insurance companies. Federated is one of only two organizations that has had affiliated companies named to both the property-casualty and life-health Ward’s 50 group of companies every year since 2001.
Ward Group® is a Cincinnati-based consulting firm specializing in the insurance industry. It reviews approximately 3,000 property and casualty companies and 800 life insurance companies each year. Ward then recognizes 50 companies that have achieved outstanding financial results in the areas of safety, consistency, and performance over a five-year period (currently 2006-2010).
The results of the 2010
CLEAReport*, an independent water
heater study by Clear Seas
Research, revealed that product
quality, service, technical support,
and the fact that Bradford White is
not sold in retail stores were the
most important factors to
contractors when selecting a
brand of tank type water heater.
And now our support for you gets
even better. Bradford White has
just opened a 24/7, factory-based
call center.
This fully staffed technical service
team is there when you need it,
anytime day or night.
We’re making it easy for you to
be a Bradford White contractor.
www.bradfordwhite.com | Built to be the Best™ | To Find A Wholesaler Call 800.523.2931*Ranking is based on the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010 CLEAReports by Clear Seas Research. Please visit www.clearseasresearch.com for additional information. © 2011, Bradford White Corporation. All rights reserved.
“We made the switch to Bradford White almost 15 years ago when we started having problems with
another brand. Our reputation depends on the products we recommend so quality and reliability are critical.
We couldn’t be happier. Bradford White is loyal to the plumbing profession. Their products and people are
top notch.” Kevin and Ryan Carney - Carney Plumbing – Heating – Cooling, Line Lexington, PA
For the fifthstraight year,Bradford White
is the tank waterheater brand
most purchasedby professional
contractors. And again,
we are the mostrecommended
brand.
26298_5for5_PlumbEng_Layout 1 7/7/11 3:12 PM Page 1
10 PA Contractor PaPHCC
Congratulations to Scott Shaver of Horn Plumbing & Heating Inc. of Exton
PA for being named this year’s Delta Apprentice of the year. Scott was
sponsored by Horn Plumbing & Heating, Philadelphia Suburban PHCC
and Philadelphia Suburban PHCC Apprenticeship School in Folcroft PA.
Congratulations again to Scott, for winning this year’s National PHCC Apprenticeship Contest in Minneapolis Minnesota. Scott competed with 12 other contestants from
different states throughout the country. Prior to competing in the national contest, Scott won 1st place in the PA PHCC State Competition.
Scott completed his on the job training under Master Plumber Todd Horn of Horn Plumbing & Heating. Scott completed his class room training at the Philadelphia Suburban PHCC Plumbing Apprenticeship School in Folcroft PA. He re-ceived an award at the graduation for perfect attendance throughout his four years in school. Horn Plumbing & Heating is a member of PA’s local PHCC chapter Philadelphia Suburban represented by brothers Scott & Todd Horn. Congratulations to them as well for supporting PHCC and PHCC Programs.
Scott received a check for $2500 and a plaque for his Delta Apprentice of the Year Award and received a check for $1000, a plaque and $2500 worth of tools for winning the national apprenticeship contest.
Accomplishing just one of these elite awards is an honor. To be the recipient of both of these awards is unbelievable. Way to go Scott!
PA PHCC thanks the National Apprenticeship Committee, Judges and Sponsors for making this contest possible every year. Great Job!
Next year the two state PA/NJ Apprenticeship Contest will be held in Atlantic City NJ on Friday May 10, 2012 and the National Apprenticeship Contest will be held in Philadelphia on October 4, 2012.
Pennsylvania Apprentice wins 2011 National PHCC Apprenticeship
Contest and is also named the 2011 Delta Apprentice of the Year
Substance abusers are:• 10 times more likely to miss work*• 3.6 times more likely to be involved in on-the-job accidents*• 5 times more likely to injure themselves or another in the process*• 33% less productive*
Protect your company from becoming part of these statistics!
Federated offers a program with the tools and resources you need to help make your business one that is drug- and alcohol-free. For more information, contact your local Federated representative or call
1-800-533-0472. * American Council for Drug Education
(Printed in EHS Today 10-6-2009)
Copyright 2010 • Federated Mutual Insurance Company
12 PA Contractor PaPHCC
Quality Service Contractors–An Enhanced Service Group of PHCCP.O. Box 6808, Falls Church, VA 22040, USA
Phone: (800) 533-7694, Outside USA: (703) 237-8100 Fax: (703) 237-7442, Web site: www.qsc-phcc.org
Toolbox Talks
Do you know there’s a killer on the job that you probably meet face-to-face every day? A common, ordinary ladder can be a killer. Ladders are involved in many accidents, some of which are fatal. Your life literally can depend on knowing how to inspect, use, and care for this tool.
Inspecting LaddersBefore using any ladder, inspect it. Look for the following faults:
1. loose or missing rungs, cleats, or bracing
2. loose nails, bolts, or screws
3. cracked, broken, split, dented, or badly worn rungs, cleats, or side rails
4. wood splinters
5. corrosion of metal ladders or metal parts
6. missing or damaged side rails or foot pads
If you find a ladder in poor condition, don’t use it. Report it. It should be tagged and properly repaired or immediately destroyed.
Using LaddersChoose the right type and size ladder. Except where stairways, ramps, or runways are provided, use a ladder to go from one level to another. Keep these tips in mind:
1. Be sure straight ladders are long enough so that the side rails extend above the top support point by at least 36 inches.
2. Don’t set up ladders in areas such as doorways or walkways where others may run into them, unless barriers protect them. Keep the area around the top and base of the ladder clear. Don’t run hoses, extension cords, or ropes on a ladder that would create a trip or fall hazard.
3. Don’t try to increase the height of a ladder by standing it on boxes, barrels, or other objects. Never splice two ladders together.
Ladder Safety
Fall 2011 13
Toolbox Talks
Two, 1-horsepower grinders
Pre-assembled and compact unit
5 inlets
Onboard visual and audible alarm
Pumps up to 36 feet vertically or 328 feet horizontally
Up to 60 gallons per minute
The original plumbing solution since 1958
The new generation of duplex systems
1-800-571-8191www.saniflo.com
Easyabove-the-floor
installation
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CottagesCottagesCottages
The original plumbing solution since 1958The original plumbing solution since 1958
The new generation of duplex systems
4. Set the ladder on solid footing against a solid support. Don’t try to use a stepladder as a straight ladder.
5. Place the base of a straight ladder out away from the wall or the edge of the upper landing one foot for every four feet of vertical height. A quick way to check this is to put your toes against the runners. If the ladder is at the correct angle your outstretched arms should allow your hands to grasp the runners.
6. Don’t use ladders as a platform, runway, or scaffold.
7. Tie in, block, or otherwise secure the tops of straight ladders to prevent them from being displaced.
8. To avoid slipping on a ladder, check it and your shoes for water, oil, grease, or mud and wipe it off before climbing.
9. Always face the ladder and maintain three points of contact with hands and feet at all
times. Don’t try to carry tools or materials with you.
10. Don’t lean out to the side when you’re on a ladder. If something is out of reach, get down and move the ladder to the work area.
11. Most ladders are designed to hold only one person at a time. Two may cause the ladder to fail or throw it off balance.
12. On a step ladder, never stand above the indicated topmost safe step or on the cross braces.
13. Store ladders in well-ventilated areas, away from dampness.
14. Ensure you do not exceed the maximum weight limit allowed for the ladder.
Remember to practice safety. Don’t learn it by accident.
August 2011 A Quality Service Contractors Publication for Members Quality
14 PA Contractor PaPHCC
The city was in a predicament. By the late 1800s, the slow-moving Chicago River had become a cesspool of sewage and factory pollution oozing into Lake Michigan, the source of drinking water for the bustling metropolis.
The waterway had grown so putrid that it raised fears of a disease outbreak and concerns about hurting development. So in a first-of-its-kind feat, engineers reversed the river by digging a series of canals that not only carried the stinking mess away from the lake, but also created the only shipping route between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. Now a modern threat—a voracious fish that biologists are desperate to keep out of Lake Michigan—has spurred serious talk of undertaking another engineering feat almost as bold as the original: reversing the river again to restore its flow into the lake.
The Army Corps of Engineers is studying ways to stop invasive species from moving between two of the nation’s
largest watersheds, including a proposal to block the canals and undo the engineering marvel that helped define Chicago. After the first reversal, the city at the edge of the prairie blossomed and today is known for stunning skyscrapers, a sparkling lakefront and a river dyed green every St. Pat-rick’s Day in the heart of Chicago’s downtown Loop. The idea to reverse the river again got little traction when environmentalists suggested it a few years ago. But that was before Asian carp swam to within 25 miles of Lake Michigan, where they are being held at bay with electric barriers that deliver a nonlethal jolt. And it was before a study that showed dozens of other species were poised to move between the basins.
Huge fish spurs call to ‘re-reverse’ Chicago RiverBy TAMMY WEBBER
Associated Press
Sewage Overflow, Drinking Water & Asian Carp Fish
Fall 2011 15
Adding to the urgency is the discovery last month of more carp DNA, though no actual carp, in waterways just six miles from Chicago, which could indicate that some slipped through the barriers. One live carp was found past the barrier last summer, but officials weren’t sure how it got there. The fish are rapacious eaters that can grow to 4 feet and 100 pounds, and they have been migrating up the Missis-sippi and its tributaries for decades. Scientists say they could decimate the Great Lakes’ $7 billion-a-year fishing industry and unravel the food web by starving out native species. But carp are not the only threat. A corps report issued this summer identified eight other species that could enter the lakes. What’s more, the agency concluded, the lake isn’t the only body of water in danger. The risk to the Mississippi basin is even greater because the canals offer a potential highway for about 30 species to invade the river and its tributaries from the Great Lakes. “That was one of those `Aha!’ moments,” said David Wethington, who’s managing the corps study. “You hear a lot about Asian carp and the potential devastation (to the Great Lakes), but what if things go the other way?” The idea of separating the two watersheds, which have no natural links, has gained support from powerful lawmakers, surrounding states and scientists who believe it’s the only way to avoid irreversible ecological and economic harm. “If we don’t, a century from now, our children and grand-children will have lakes full of invasive species ... and we will be sacrificing two of the greatest freshwater ecosys-tems of the United States to invasion and lost economic opportunity,” said Joel Brammeier, president of the envi-ronmental advocacy group Alliance for the Great Lakes. But the corps isn’t ready to say whether reversing the Chicago River again is the solution. Its recommendation may have to wait another four years.
To reverse the river, engineers would barricade the canals that have been used for more than a century to send the river flowing to the west. With those channels closed, the river would resume its previous course toward Lake Michigan because the river would again be higher than the lake. And that might be the easiest part. Industries that use the waterways to move everything from grain and road salt to coal and chemicals oppose the idea. They complain they stand to lose billions a year if they have to rely on more expensive trains and trucks. “I don’t want the Asian carp in the Great Lakes any more than anyone else does, but (separating the watersheds) destroys the economics of moving by barge,” said Mark Biel, executive director of the Chemical Industry Council of Illinois and chairman of Unlock Our Jobs, an industry coalition that opposes the idea. Perhaps a bigger obstacle is Chicago’s sewer system, which collects rainfall in a big part of the metro area and then discharges it toward the Mississippi. Despite billions spent on an extensive underground tunnel network, the system still cannot contain enough storm water and sewage during heavy rainstorms, forcing authorities to open shipping locks and dump the runoff into Lake Michi-gan to spare basements. Reversing the river would push even more water toward downtown and the lake, possibly requiring the city to spend billions more than planned on reservoirs and pipes to hold back the flow and prevent massive flooding. Then there’s the matter of water quality. Even when it’s not raining, more than half the volume of the river is wastewa-ter discharged from sewage treatment plants, and it’s not disinfected to kill harmful pathogens. Under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency, the city has agreed to start killing germs, but it will take a while before the water is clean enough to send into the lake.
Sewage Overflow, Drinking Water & Asian Carp Fish
continued on page 16
16 PA Contractor PaPHCC
Fact 1: Recycling mercury thermostats is easy.
Fact 2:Recycling is good for business.(customers like environmentally friendly businesses)
Fact 3:It’s something you gotta do, because it’s the law.*
www.thermostat-recycle.org
*The management of waste mercury thermostats is regulated by federal, state, and/or local law and disposal of mercury thermostats in solid waste is prohibited in CA, IA, IL, ME, MA, MN, NY, NH, OR, RI, PA, and VT.
All those things will weigh on the corps’ recommendation, due by 2015. Biel said industry supports the creation of a dead zone by injecting oxygen-eating microorganisms in a portion of the waterways so aquatic life could not survive long enough to move between basins. That would require a waiver from the Clean Water Act. Another idea is building a two-way shipping lock that could move water toward or away from the lake, said Richard Sparks, a scientist at the National Great Rivers Research and Education Center in southern Illinois. He said a strong electric current within the lock chamber might be able to kill organisms or fish, including anything that might be clinging to the barges, before opening the gates in the other direction. The corps will also study more effective electric barriers, chemicals and biological controls, Wethington said. The Natural Resources Defense Council has suggested barricading the canals, but pumping water over them to keep water flowing away from Chicago while somehow first killing outgoing invasive species.
No solution will be easy or cheap, and everyone agrees it could take many years to complete. Still, there is growing sentiment that Chicago shouldn’t pass up an opportunity to tackle the problem of invasive species, sewer overflows and pollution at the same time. The project could also address another issue: drinking water supplies. Unlike other cities that use Lake Michigan for drinking water, Chicago doesn’t return water to the lake, and there is a limit on how much it can use because of that. If the city were able to clean the water and put it back, that might help ensure enough water to handle future demand. A coalition of U.S. and Canadian cities is conducting its own study of the problems. One of its leaders, David Ullrich of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initia-tive, says the proposal to undo a century of civil engineer-ing is essential for the next century and beyond. “We believe now is the time to fundamentally redefine the relationship between the city, the Chicago River and the full waterway system,” he said.
Tammy Webber can be reached at http://twitter.com/twebber02.
Fall 2011 17
Dear PA PHCC Members:
Thank you for inviting me to write an article for your magazine. It truly has been an honor and privilege to serve as your 2010-2011 National Auxiliary President, and I look forward to Connect 2012 in Philadel-phia. I hope many of you are able to attend this year’s Connect 2011 in Minneapolis and enjoy all the educational meetings, fun events and the relationships that you build at the convention. With everything that each of us faces in our daily lives, it is so nice to pick up the phone, e-mail or Facebook a friend who lives hundreds or thousands of miles away for that extra support.
One of the projects the Auxiliary has been working on this year is a new updated Educational Video for 7th-8th graders. We are really excited this project will begin their taping at this years’ Convention and hopefully be completed by the end of the year. Also, the PHCC website at www.phccweb.org has been re-vamped so please take a look at it. The rollout for this will be presented at Connect 2011 so more information will be forthcoming after that. Promoting the HVAC side of the industry is an item of discus-sion that came from the Auxiliary’s Long Range Planning Meeting in July and your new Incoming President, Terry Giebelhaus, will make an announcement once that promo item is finalized.
This year we are awarding 42 Scholarships, which was a HUGE increase from last year. his is a need that is continuing to increase. So if you have any ideas or suggestions on fundraising for these dollars, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly or through you local, state and zone director representatives. These children are our future and we need to help them any way we can. Please remember when visiting the PHCC website to click on the Auxiliary icon at the bottom and that will lead you to the information on scholarships, grants, Auxiliary Awards, promo items and brochures. There is a wealth of information there just for you. Please remember you can be a member-at-large and still submit for the Robert M. Cox awards. These are dollars for you to continue promoting the PHCC industry in your community.
We all need to work together to protect the welfare of our families, our businesses and our industry so stay in contact with your local, state and national members of congress and relay that information to the National PHCC Government Relations department. Mark Riso is there to help you as well as the rest of the staff in the National Office, so please use their expertise.
My theme this year is “Sewing the Seeds of Prosperity”. The “sewing” was based on the Nebraska Auxiliary who has sewn many quilts throughout the years as a fundraiser for our local scholarships. “Seeds” comes from the farming state I am from and planting the seeds of ideas to help our industry. “Prosperity” is for the type of people in our industry who work hard and go forth and prosper. I thank you again for allowing me to serve as your National Auxiliary President and wish you all good health and success in your lives.
Sincerely,
Barb Kreifels
18 PA Contractor PaPHCC
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