Snyder & Associates Podcast

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working to remove lead from drinking water. Its Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI) deadline is October 16, 2024. Our team assists clients in complying with the LCRI initiative by performing lead service line inventories and creating new sampling plans. As the EPA's inventory deadline approaches, it's crucial to consider the proposed...

The San Diego region faces a delicate balance between the growing demand for water and the imperative to preserve and enhance the quality of its water sources . As the population burgeons and climate change introduces new uncertainties, San Diego has grappled with issues such as water scarcity and contamination . The city has embarked on an innovative Pure Water San Diego initiative in response to...

Balancing a community’s immediate needs and planning for long-term resilience is crucial when obtaining funding for municipal projects. In Nebraska, it’s essential to understand the available avenues for financing and encourage collaboration among stakeholders to ensure efficient management of water resources, resilient infrastructure, and thriving communities in the future. This examination of fu...

Correcting Inflow & Infiltration in Sanitary Sewer Systems It’s important to note that the purpose of sanitary sewers is to transport wastewater to treatment facilities . When water from external sources enters the system, it is classified as Inflow & Infiltration (I/I). This inevitably leads to a decrease in sewer distribution and, as a result, diminishes the overall effectiveness of the...

Creekview Stormwater Wetland Urban Conservation Practices The Creekview project is an innovative initiative that redirects a large amount of stormwater drainage from the City of Ankeny to a designated area of Fourmile Creek. This effort aims to boost the natural environment and water quality by expanding the greenway park system and integrating wetland features. The City of Ankeny, Polk County, th...

Planning for Success, Revitalizing the Fort Dodge Community While Fort Dodge had experienced a steady decline in population for many years, city leaders have slowed the decline, and the community and region are recently rebounding. By implementing innovative initiatives and building partnerships, new businesses are being attracted to the area, creating fresh opportunities for existing and new resi...

Aiding Industrial Clients through Design & Compliance   Industrial engineering is a vast field that encompasses a wide range of disciplines and activities. It involves the analysis of complex production and operations to optimize output and minimize costs for clients. As the world of business continues to become more complex, industrial engineering is becoming an invaluable asset for all kinds...

Urban Wetland Protection and Restoration Urban wetlands help fulfill an important function in improving surface water quality and purifying precipitation running off from towns and cities. As municipalities continue to expand and disrupt natural landscapes, learning how we can sufficiently use natural systems to try and mitigate the impending changes is in the best interest of city officials and c...

Stream Mitigation Permitting & Requirements By preserving and restoring wetlands, habitats, and streams in designated regions, we can balance out unavoidable damages and provide no net loss to the environment. However, regulations and requirements often impede progress in this pursuit of balance. The science of stream mitigation is evolving rapidly as does the development of state and Corps po...

Selecting Right-Sized Treatments for Small-Town Wastewater Systems Identifying proper wastewater treatment solutions for small towns requires the acknowledgment that these communities function differently from large urban centers. As small towns across the country find it challenging to keep pace with the changing wastewater limits and regulations , our engineers are prepared to help. Listen in as...

Utilizing Trenchless Technology in New Projects & Rehab Methods Installing new wastewater or water supply pipes in established residential areas is a high-impact process that typically necessitates removing sidewalks, roadways, and driveways, and disturbing existing landscaping. However, trenchless construction technology is an innovative underground construction method that often eliminates t...

Municipal Water & Wastewater Operator Shortages Across the country, communities are facing a shortage of water and wastewater treatment plant operators. This shortage is leaving municipalities in immediate need of assistance from replacements. Without these qualified individuals, communities face the risk of failing to provide essential public health services. Snyder & Associates is prepar...

Award-Winning Collaborative Wetland, Fishpond & Bridge Projects When put to a vote, residents passed the Linn County Water and Land Legacy bond issue with a 74 percent approval rating. This popular concept demonstrated that county residents overwhelmingly support water quality, floodplain storage, and the preservation of natural areas. To meet these goals, Linn County enlisted the help of Snyd...

Considerations for Sanitary Assessment Program Planning A well-structured assessment program provides the critical information needed to evaluate the physical condition and functionality of a community’s wastewater collection system . This data is vital for estimating the remaining service life of infrastructure components and planning for future mitigation projects. During this podcast, Brett Pai...

Stay Proactive with Sanitary Sewer Flow Monitoring In a perfect world, stormwater would never find its way into a community’s sanitary sewer system, let alone, to a treatment plant. However, inflow and infiltration issues are real-world problems that require a complex monitoring process. Implementing flow monitoring inspections identifies problem areas of inflow and infiltration in a sanitary syst...

Exploring Dam Removal Project Funding When a dam begins to cause negative environmental impacts or creates safety risks for users of a waterway, removal could be the answer . However, this solution often comes with a hefty price tag. With almost no state or federal funding programs dedicated specifically to dam removal, financing these projects can become a challenge. In this podcast, environmenta...

Trenchless Construction Safely Installs Transmission Main with Minimal Disruption As the City of Ankeny continues to expand, upgrading the city’s infrastructure is in a constant cycle to support the new housing and business construction — including the need for expanding water main transmission lines. This type of work is notorious for causing disruptions in neighborhoods and delays for motorists....

Hydraulic Modeling Provides Insight into the Impacts of Flows on Infrastructure Hydraulic modeling is a commonly used tool in the field of water resources engineering for the analysis and evaluation of water and wastewater utilities. While building models to simulate a real-world situation isn’t a new concept, it’s becoming increasingly essential for decision-making by removing the risk component....

Lauridsen Skatepark Planning and Design When the idea of building a skatepark along the Des Moines riverfront came before the city council in 2004, no one could have envisioned the seventeen-year journey ahead to make it a reality. After years of grassroots organizing, fundraising, and more than a few design changes, the Lauridsen Skatepark became a reality. Offering over 88,000 square feet of ska...

ADA Transition Plans are Guides to Creating More Inclusive Communities To attract new residents and visitors, most cities strive to be accessible to people with all levels of physical ability. This is not just a good idea, but a mandate that began with the historic signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990 . Among other things, the ADA guarantees equal opportunity for individual...

Corridor Optimization & Safety Considerations Safe and efficient roadway corridors are essential in every modern community — creating the transportation networks that link people with their destinations. The first step in planning a new roadway or improving an existing corridor is a thorough inventory of existing infrastructure. A careful study of key aspects, such as traffic patterns and adja...

Multimodal Transportation Safety Goals & Considerations Beginning in the 1940s, rapid suburban growth led to sprawling communities that made households overly dependent on automobiles. As a result, many communities created well-developed road networks, but with minimal accommodations for non-automobile travelers. As preferences shifted over the intervening years toward more healthy and eco-fri...

Managing Losses in Water Distribution Brings Recognition to the City of Bedford, IA Water demand is on the rise and resources are diminishing . Water losses from the distribution network can be a contributing factor, however, maintaining a high-quality and efficient distribution system can be expensive. When the City of Bedford’s water treatment plant could no longer serve the city’s needs, they d...

Wastewater Collection System Evaluation and Planning Managing a sanitary sewer collection system is a complex, multifaceted assignment. Many utilities across the country are responsible for the operation and maintenance of sanitary sewers , manholes, and pump stations . Due to aging systems creating an increased potential for Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSOs) , municipalities are now focusing on the...

Optimizing Operations and Safety at Intersections With all modes of traffic crossing paths at intersections, they are designed points of conflict. Safety and operations are critical components in limiting the number of these conflicts. Listen in to this second episode of a four-part series on transportation safety as our traffic engineering professionals Mark Perington, P.E., PTOE , Tony Boes, P.E...