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WSSC admits hundreds of major water valves need repair

By Kate Ryan

WASHINGTON — When water mains break, one of the first things utility crews
have to do is stop the flow of water. That means locating some of the massive
valves in the system and shutting off the water. The hitch can come when crews
dig underground into the “valve vaults” and find that the valves are so corroded,
they simply don’t turn.

The problem was underscored in 2013 when, in the middle of a blistering heat
wave, the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission was faced with having to cut
water off to much of Prince George’s County due in part to a large valve that
wouldn’t budge. Keeping the water flowing came down to a determined crew of four
WSSC workers who insisted on finding a way to repair the stuck valve. Though the
problem of aging and inoperable valves got attention at the time, the Washington
Post reports that of 350 large valves that have been inspected so far, 60
percent were inoperable.

Montgomery County Councilman Roger Berliner, who heads a council committee on
issues related to utilities, was briefed on the report and said, “I’m deeply
disappointed that our system has deteriorated to such a degree that we can’t open
a valve in an emergency situation.”

Jerry Irvine, public affairs manager at WSSC, says there are tens of thousands of
valves in the system that serves Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.

According to Irvine, more than 700 of the larger valves were installed between
1920 and 1960 and need replacement or repair. Irvine says the current poor
condition of the older, larger valves is a direct result of what he called the
“gutting” of crews that specialized in checking and maintaining the valves. And
he blames that on budget cuts dating back more than a decade.

The problem with the large valve in 2013 put new emphasis on the condition of the
system’s valves. Irvine says, “Next summer we will hire a team of people
dedicated to doing nothing but locating, exercising, and where possible
identifying for replacement all of our large valves.”

See WTOP coverage of the work of
those four crew members in 2013 here. You can see the size of the valves they
work with.

Follow @WTOP on Twitter and on the WTOP Facebook page.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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