Underground water and wastewater infrastructure won’t last forever. Yet many water utilities across the U.S. are still relying on pipes that are 40, 50, or even over 100 years old.
The challenge for operators is clear: replacing aging infrastructure won’t happen overnight. And with the high cost of replacement, getting funding approved by local governments is never guaranteed.
Rethinking the Approach to Pipe Replacement
Steven Hernandez of WaterWisePro Training LLC says it’s more urgent than ever for water utility professionals to start thinking outside the box when it comes to maintaining aging systems.
“The industry standard suggests replacing 1% of your inventory each year,” Hernandez says. “That’s a lot of pipe if you’re managing hundreds, if not thousands, of miles. Most piping lasts 65 to 75 years. Water utilities just can’t keep up. Honestly, most aren’t even thinking about it—until something starts leaking like a sieve.”
To help close that gap, Hernandez believes utilities must lean into innovative and cost-effective strategies for maintaining and rehabilitating their underground systems.
“Water utility operators need to come up with ways to lessen the bleeding,” he explains. “When they learn how to use the right materials and methods to handle problems in-house, they can control costs better—and keep up with maintenance more effectively.”
Don’t Miss: Pipeline Maintenance & Rehabilitation Walking Classrooms
Bringing 25 years of industry experience, Hernandez returns to The Utility Expo this October to lead two walking classrooms on Pipeline Maintenance & Rehabilitation. These sessions will focus on:
- Common pipe types and emerging pipe technologies
- Rehab and replacement methods
- Key considerations like soil conditions and safety
“I’m really excited to go on our walking tour of the exhibit area to look at new equipment and innovations that make pipeline replacement easier,” says Hernandez. “There are some amazing tools and technologies out there. I’ve been checking out the exhibitor list and doing my research to put together a strong plan of which companies we’ll visit.”
Building a More Sustainable System
Hernandez also looks forward to sharing ideas on building more sustainable water systems.
“I’m from California, and we’re pretty progressive when it comes to that type of thing,” he says. “I’m eager to share some of our ideas with people from all over the country at The Utility Expo.”
Meet the Trainer
Steven Hernandez holds multiple certifications from the California State Water Resources Control Board, including Water Distribution Operator Grade 5, Water Treatment Operator Grade 4, and CWEA Collection System Operator Grade 4. Over his 25-year career, much of his work has focused on assembling construction teams to tackle pipeline replacement projects.
In 2016, Hernandez started WaterWisePro Training LLC. He began sharing educational content on Instagram to help and uplift others in the industry. His popularity quickly grew, leading to in-person classes and speaking engagements.
WaterWisePro has grown so rapidly that Hernandez retired from the municipal side of the industry to focus on training full-time.
“It’s hard for me to believe, but I’ve trained over 15,500 water professionals across the country, in-person and virtually, over the past nine years,” he says. “I love this industry and relate to what attendees at The Utility Expo are going through. I personally went from summer hire to superintendent by 28. I’ve done it all—and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned.”
Reserve Your Spot
Hernandez’s two 90-minute walking classrooms are limited to just 30 attendees per session. Be sure to register early:
In addition to the walking tour, Hernandez plans to provide attendees with educational literature on today’s most common and emerging pipeline materials. He emphasizes that material selection plays a key role in reducing costs and improving performance when working with aging infrastructure.
More About The Utility Expo
The Utility Expo’s comprehensive education program is the leading source for the utility industry to obtain cutting-edge information for today’s challenging economy and business model. In addition to jobsite safety technology, topics include aerial devices, vacuum excavating, horizontal directional drilling, equipment hydraulics, and more.
The Utility Expo 2025 is taking place October 7-9, 2025 in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.
See the full list of companies that will be exhibiting at The Utility Expo 2025: Exhibitor Directory.
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