Don't Forget Water Utilities - They Can Be Connected Too

Someone named Justin Hicks has a four-stroke lead on Tiger Woods in the first round of golf's U.S. Open, but the Plank's Michelle Cottle has golf news that's more likely to maintain long-term relevance than Mr. Hicks:

Well, if the rising of ocean levels means larger water hazards, Michelle, perhaps we'll see a shift of opinion on the links ... Few Greenies on These Greens By Tobin Harshaw

Until we can start to acknowledge reality, no matter how painful, change will remain extremely difficult. Denial is a powerful concept when it comes to human behavior and psychology, and denial is at its strongest when a change of facts - a new reality - threatens a comfortable lifestyle. It doesn't surprise me that golfers would be in denial, as a class, because they're very fond of their beautiful, lush courses and it's a great lifestyle to be attached to. The Country Club Life, if you've ever experienced it, is marvelous, but one must acknowledge, it really is an alternate reality. Few get to enjoy hanging out in beautiful circumstances where one is waited on hand and foot, where every whim is anticipated and met. Not that there is anything at all with that - I personally love country clubs (and I'm an avid golfer, whenever I get a chance).

But to live in a bubble and yet not realize that one is living in a bubble takes a special form of cluelessness - it's a rather lazy outlook on life, IMHO. And selfish too. My mama taught me in no uncertain terms that lazy and selfish are no ways to go through life.

In that same segment, there was this item as well: Drought Hits California's Already Tight Water Supply.

If you open your eyes and look, open your ears and listen, more and more you'll hear stories about water shortages and conservation, but it's amazing how many managers at water utilities can't see the forest for the trees. They're still behind the curve in implementing an automated meter infrastructure (AMI) system that will give them detailed digital data, which can be used not only for revenue measurement purposes, but also to improve their management of their systems and lower the wasted water that leaks from old pipes that have been buried in the ground for decades.

It reminds me of the Stephen Covey story about "sharpening the saw" - a euphemism for taking time out for personal regeneration. As the story goes, the man is sawing away, but not making much progress. An observer stops him and asks, "why don't you take a break and sharpen the saw, then you could cut faster?" The guy looks at him with disgust, "silly idea, take a break! I'm too busy to take a break!"

Too many managers of infrastructure - pick the infrastructure - see their jobs as maintaining a status quo. Dramatic changes look scary (negative economic outcomes followed by negative political outcomes - lost job, anyone?), and so emotional arguments are made against suggestions like AMI and broadband. "We could never afford the capital investment of thousands of meter end points" is the most common objection. Even when a financial analysis shows a reasonable payback, it is too often dismissed, not for rational reasons, but as an excuse based on irrational fear of risk.

As a public policy issue, we must all grow more aware of how we address the issue of shrinking resources. Otherwise we'll end up in a society where a privileged few enjoy dramatically more than the underprivileged masses, and that is a recipe for political instability, where all end up losers.

The Bottom Line

Data communication systems, which include both wireless AMI and wired and wireless broadband, provide society with the information it needs to manage more effectively its scarce resources and to ensure politically equitable outcomes and a sustainable economy, the twin pillars of a civilized society.