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Publisher’s Perspective
If it were possible to locate your underground lines that do not have tracer wire buried with them, you’d at least want to know about it, wouldn’t you?
Two guys were separated only by a county line. They both managed small water systems and went to the same association meetings. They became friends as the result of the common bond they had. Part of that bond was that a significant part of their system could not be located. There was no one in the association who knew where the lines were and they often talked with each other about their common dilemma. Neither of the operators had a clue where the water lines were.
After some time, one of the operators decided to develop a system to help him take control of the problem. He began to measure the exposed line from a land mark and wrote it down on a card. He established a card file and a system to organize the filing. Every time he saw the line during the next 10 years he faithfully measured the line and recorded it. He often said it was amazing how many times he went back to the same general area and having the card file was helpful in identifying exactly where to start digging.
His friend didn’t disagree with the card file system. He just thought it to be a bit too much trouble. Besides all that after 10 years he also knew about where every line in town was. He had a good memory and was seldom wrong. When one of the local utilities needed to dig in his area, he could almost always tell them whether there was a conflict by just knowing where they were going to dig.
A few more years passed; both of these operators were two of the most experienced in the association. Younger operators would flock around them to listen to the “war” stories about the good old days when these two old friends first started. “Boys,” they said, “we didn’t have a clue where anything was. We didn’t know AC from PVC. We were pitiful.” Everybody loved to hear them reminisce.
Still time moved on and both operators passed on and go where good water managers go when they pass on. They left behind two small water systems that really missed all the knowledge that had been taken for granted. After a period of time, new operators were hired. As they sat down in their new offices behind the desks separated only by a county line, one of them looked in awe at a card file system with specific notes that would last the life time of the system. The other new operator didn’t have a clue where his water lines were.
One of life’s greatest principles is leaving our places better than we found them. Commitment to our families and our communities is more than just knowing. Somewhere along the way we have to start doing. It’s doing what we can with what we have to make sure that the folks who follow us will have it better than we had it. Let’s break the cycle “I can’t locate it” and make a difference for those sure to follow…it’s the right thing to do!
