SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Technology Stocks : Discuss Year 2000 Issues
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Alastair McIntosh who wrote (3542)2/1/1999 12:19:00 PM
From: flatsville  Read Replies (1) of 9818
 
Alastair--Too soon to tell under which category the Nebraska water provider story might fall. I suspect that an embedded systems problem that may affect approx. 1,000 other similar systems will not go unnoticed for long. The fact that the company conducting the testing was in fact named in the article leads me to believe that there's more to this than rumor or innuendo. I'll be checking the discussion forum on the awwa site this week for any mention.

As an industry professional perhaps you could make some inquires. Don't expect the company in question to be entirely forthcoming with details as there may be liability issues.

I know there is enough concern among the provider industry associations to raise doubts as to the overall effectiveness of remediation efforts and contingency planning to date. Have you read either of the surveys? Since many water and sewer providers are not public companies information has been difficult if not impossible to come by. (In the southern US many sewage providers are small Mom and Pop owned companies that have little awareness. I clearly remember that bit of info from the first sewer provider article I read. It came from the Charlotte News-Observer in the summer of 1998. The reporter focused on the efforts of some CEOs in Research Triangle Park to ascertain the remediation efforts of their provider to no avail. When they finally got a response it a amounted to something like, "Y2k? What's that you say?" There was some concern that they might have to fund the remediation out of their own pockets so their companies could stay in business due to awareness, cost and time constraints on the part of the provider.)

Since awwa and amsa released industry preparedness surveys I have seen more info in the past few months than I have the previous year. Both industries will have to do a better job than the surveys indicate before they earn my trust.

As we both know the creation of sanitary systems has done more to lengthen life expectancy than the advent of antibiotic drugs. If the integrity of sanitary systems is at risk so is public health.

In a public health game of "you bet your life" the ultimate question will be, "How lucky do you feel on 01/01/00?" I'm certain some will never ask that question when they turn on the tap or flush the toilet because it never ocurred to them, they assumed they knew the answer, they were told not to concern themselves or they preferred not to think about it. Your complacency in this matter could be hazardous to your health.

"flatsville"
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News