The Ontario Construction Report – November 2009 – PAGE OCR B1
The Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association
Shining light on the real underground economy
STAFF WRITER – The OCR Construction Report
With more than 700 members be- nounced Joe Accardi is its new execu-
longing to a network of 10 local associ- tive officer. See story p. B3.)
ations and two supplier associations, the “Each and every US jurisdiction has
Ontario Sewer and Watermain Con- a mandatory state wide onecall system
struction Association (OSWCA) fo- as compared to Ontario’s partial and
cuses on issues that are vitally important voluntary one call system,” an OSWCA
to the community, yet are out of sight representative reported in the associa-
(and often mind) until something goes tion’s magazine, The Undergrounder.
wrong. “While many gas companies such as
This is the real “underground econ- Bell Canada and a handful of the elec-
omy”, one that generates hundreds of trical power distributors participate in
millions of dollars in business and On-1Call, at least 80 electrical compa-
maintains thousands of legitimate jobs nies, mostly municipal water depart-
each year, including sewer and water- ments and more than 50 cable
main contractors, consultants, engi- companies, require separate calls. . .
neers, and suppliers. Notably, most “The result is that in some parts of
components for sewer and water serv- the Province, contractors must make up
ices are manufactured in Ontario, so any to 13 separate phone calls to utilities to
work on the underground services has a get all of the locates within a few weeks
magnifying effect on the regional econ- or longer. By contrast, the entire conti-
omy. nental US now only needs to dial 811
Trouble is, few care about the sewer once to get all of their utility locates
and water system unless something within three business days.
goes wrong: There is a public health “The OSWCA is a founding mem-
crisis, or a sinkhole that causes major ber of the Ontario Regional Common
damage and economic disruption. But Ground Alliance and supports their pro-
the OSWCA is working to change the posal for one call legislation. Until now
story – and is achieving success in many the Province has been slow to respond
areas, including progress to encourage and reluctant to add more regulatory
a proper “one call” system for under- burdens on public utilities.”
ground utilities, and improved educa-
tion and training for engineers, OSWCA supports education
technicians, and skilled tradespeople Meanwhile, the OSWCA is putting
working on the underground services. increasing emphasis on supporting ini-
tiatives to elevate and increase access to
OSWCA calls for a legislated educational opportunities for under-
One-Call System ground service work.
The association hopes the provincial “In the past 35 years, we have de-
government will legislate a mandatory voted significant time and financial re-
one-call utility locator system if volun- sources to education initiatives as they
tary initiatives fail to solve the problem relate to our industry, and thereby to the
of incomplete and inconsistent informa- provision of the vital infrastructure that
tion, says interim OSWCA executive supports and benefits everyone in the
director Graeme Clark. (As this issue province,” says Graeme Clark, who
of OCR went to press, the OCSWA an- served as interim OSWCA executive di-
Congratulations to the
Proud to be part of the rich history of the OSWCA!
Ontario Sewer and Watermain
Construction Association.
We are proud to be associated with you.
CON-KER CONSTRUCTION
CORPORATION
860 Progress Court, Oakville, ON L6L 6K1
Tel: 905-847-8878 Fax: 905-847-6721
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