August 27, 2021
Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, FACEC
President, Chen Moore and Associates
Last week: Last week, the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) asked water users to cut back on consumption because of COVID. OUC uses ozone for disinfection in their water treatment process, which requires the use of liquid oxygen. Liquid oxygen is also used in treatments for high oxygen flows for critical COVID patients. With the current spike in COVID patients in hospitals requiring the aforementioned high flows, the supply of liquid oxygen is limited. This won’t impact South Florida water supplies, but it highlights how fragile both the supply chain and water treatment processes are. Bottom line is this: Save potable water!
Looking ahead: With the passage of President Biden’s $3.5 trillion plan in the House, the time for reconciliation in the Senate is coming. The idea of tying a social program to an infrastructure plan to me is abhorrent. Infrastructure is an investment in the bones of our country. A social program is an investment in the heart of our country. Everyone is entitled to their opinions about whether or not the country needs an orthopedic doctor or a cardiologist, but I think we can all agree they don’t need to see patients together.
