You have to spend money to save money.
It’s a slight spin on an old adage that works only one way: if you invest in the life cycle of your capital improvements. In the long run, the money — and infrastructure — will last longer.
For more than 20 years, Black & Veatch worked with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Utility Commission to upgrade its wastewater treatment system on a project-by-project basis. There were many short-term wins, but a dated master plan made the long-term a bit less clear.
That all changed with the South Fork Improvements Program, which started as a solution to correct sanitary sewer overflows. After an initial assessment, the commission decided to invest in a program management approach that is already paying back.