December 17, 2009

Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association aims to raise profile

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

Entrenching the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association as a premier resource for infrastructure expertise, both politically and publicly, is a primary goal of the association’s new executive director.

“We want to increase awareness about the association and that we are not just a bunch of contractors,” Joseph Accardi, executive director, OSWCA. “We are here to benefit the wellness of all people with our broad base of knowledge. We also want to help ensure funding is available so municipalities can spend money on infrastructure renewal.”

Accardi took over at the helm of OSWCA in November and has been steadily working on a new strategic plan for OSWCA with its board of directors. The new plan will help OSWCA evolve, increase its presence in the infrastructure community, both provincially and municipally, increase member services and remarket itself, says Accardi.

“Effectively, when municipalities have a question, we would like them to come to us. We want them to understand we are here to give them our expertise,” he says. “People do not see what we do because we deal with underground utilities, but we are a strong association.”

Accardi has spent the last eight years at Royal Pipe as its national specification manager. Among his duties were working with municipalities, consultants and contractors on sewer and watermain design, installation and specification nationwide.

The changing landscape in which OSWCA members work and the support the association provides to its members were catalysts for his wanting to become its new executive director, says Accardi. In particular, liability has been shifting more to contractors from consultants and municipalities in areas of utility locates, project design, material selection and specifications, he notes.

“What is also becoming more evident of late is that in tendering practices on contracts the onus is falling more on contractors than it initially was,” Accardi says.

“A lot of members are taking on more liability instead of just constructing the project. We are involved in preliminary design, final design work and changes on site. There is nothing wrong with that, but the liability has slightly shifted a bit more to contractors.”

OSWCA will also continue to advocate for a one-call utility locate system which is in line with the Canadian Common Ground Alliance’s recent push for a national one-call system.

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