Cool, Clear Water May Command a High Price Next Year(origanily posted on scary gary)

greenspun.com : LUSENET : TimeBomb 2000 (Y2000) : One Thread

: http://www.y2k.gov/new/3rdquarterly.html Comment: First, the facts on the industry's compliance are self-reported. Second, the people filling out the forms were not under oath. Third, the survey is not finished yet. Soon, soon.

They can run it manually, it says here. Manually. Sure. Run the Colorado River Project manually: Hoover/Boulder Dam. "Hey, Fred. Turn that bolt to the right about half a turn. No, the red one. Yeah, that's it. No, no: to the right! Clockwise. OK, you see that blue knob? All right, now. . . ."

Water treatment could be a problem. It seems that the water treatment industry needs certain chemicals.

Maybe they can make them manually.

This is from thr 3rd quarterly report of the President's Council on the Y2K Conversion (Aug. 5).

* * * * * * * * * * *

Preliminary data from the most recent large-scale survey of the nation's water systems indicate that it is increasingly unlikely that the date change will create disruptions in water service. Data from the survey, conducted by a group of major trade associations in June 1999, show that, overall, 92 percent of water systems report that they are fully compliant, and a significant number are in the final stages of remediation and testing for their individual infrastructure and support systems. Furthermore, since most water and wastewater facilities have the ability to convert to manual operations as a back-up in the case of any emergency, water systems are in a good position to handle any Y2K-related disruptions to external services.

The electric power, chemical, and transportation sectors play an important role in supporting processes that help to provide an abundant supply of safe and clean drinking water. Water systems must continue to work with their partners to ensure the Y2K readiness of these important supply chain relationships, and make testing of contingency plans a top priority. More information is needed about the contingency capabilities of some smaller water systems that, while less automated than larger systems, may have fewer resources for addressing technical problems. . . .

There are approximately 190,000 drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities in the United States.

Most drinking water and wastewater systems have the ability to convert to manual operations when automated processes are disrupted.

In June 1999, the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), and the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) conducted a second survey to ascertain the current state of Y2K readiness within the water industry. Final results are expected in fall 1999.

Preliminary results from the AWWA/AMWA/NAWC survey indicate that, overall, 92 percent of water systems report that they are fully compliant.

Link: http://www.y2k.gov/new/3rdquarterly.html

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-- mike (mike @wal-mart.com), August 06, 1999

Answers

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr near Monterey, California

I called my water company on the first day that I GI'd in mid-January. They hooked me up with the person in the company "doing all the Y2K work." I asked her how they're preparing for Y2K. She said they didn't need to worry about that because she's getting them a new computer system. She didn't know how long it would take to install the system. I asked if there might be an issue with imbedded chips. I had to explain what's meant by imbedded chips. She said not to worry about that because "everything is completely mechanical, just like your car."

I asked what happens if the electricity goes out. She said not to worry because they have generators. I asked how much fuel they have. It's two days. I asked what happens if the electricity stays down more than two days. She said I'd need to "get on" my electric company about that.

I asked what happens if they don't bring the chemicals. I learned they have diesel fuel, and they'll just go get the chemicals. I asked where they store their fuel. It's under ground.

I wonder if my water company self-reported in the 92% who say they're "compliant." She was certainly friendly!

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage.neener.autospammers--regrets.greenspun), August 07, 1999.


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