Subsurface Utilities: challenges and solutions in 2023 feat Nicholas Zembillas, Brenda Reigle

Ep. 24 |
May 13, 2023

On this extraordinary episode of the Utility Strategy Podcast, David Horesh speaks with not one but two professionals from the industry on the solutions to our industry's pain points.

Brenda Reigle is a DIG prevention consultant with 26 years of experience as Executive Director at NUCA of Pennsylvania. Nicholas Zembillas is a subsurface utility engineer and expert in everything related to SUE.

Together their experience in the industry provides tremendous insight into all issues pertaining to subsurface utilities.

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

TAKEAWAYS

Unmarked lines, Mismarked lines, lead excavators to see nothing is there. From the contractor's perspective, one of the reasons that we went with the SUE was because we recognized that over the years we have an increase in unmarked lines.

The challenge is going to be now integrating from the old standard. To the new standard, and that has to be looked at carefully by the industry as well as the project owners. Whether that becomes a hard integration or a soft integration, that's one challenge.

We’ve gotta get the lawmakers to enact more states to have a SUE law. And have rules and regulations to follow that law. Pennsylvania's done it. Colorado's done it. We need more states. Texas, Florida, California, many states realized the benefit. You know, at one time there were over 48 state DOT’s that had either statewide, district-wide or project specific. Some of that has diminished, but we're seeing a revitalization coming, but we need to get more state laws.

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