Last year, Dr. Paul F Boulos took over as the President of the Middle East region of MWH, a global wet infrastructure sector leader and provider of environmental engineering, construction and strategic consulting services. Boulos, who is also the President of MWH Soft, an MWH Subsidiary which provides cutting edge wet infrastructure modelling and simulation software, is regarded as one of the foremost experts on water resources engineering, authoring nine authoritative books and more than 100 technical papers on issues critical to the water and wastewater industry. In 2008, he was awarded Honorary Diplomate status (Hon.D.WRE) by the American Academy of Water Resources Engineers, one of only 16 engineering professionals worldwide to hold that honour. In 2009, he was awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honour, one of America’s highest honours. Boulos spoke to Anoop K Menon on his work and achievements, on water management in the MENA region, and how modelling/simulation software can help develop efficient water systems.
How did a civil engineer become a top, globally well known expert on water resources engineering and drinking water distribution engineering?
Dr. Paul F Boulos
Anything is possible if you work hard and get a good education. While my bachelor’s degree was in civil engineering, I completed both my master’s and doctorate degrees in hydraulic engineering. Through my work at the University of Kentucky and with MWH, I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with many water industry giants, from private industries to research and government organisations. They taught me a great deal, and instilled in me a huge personal passion for water resources management, particularly drinking water distribution engineering. Certainly there is no shortage of challenges in providing safe drinking water. The need for safe drinking water is greater today than ever before — not only in the US, but throughout the world. Safe, adequate water supplies are imperative to sustainable economic growth. Knowing that I am making a difference in the world by helping improve the quality of life and sustain the world’s infrastructure gives me a wonderful feeling of satisfaction. That’s what’s made my work such a source of joy in my life.
Coming from a water surplus region like North America to a water scarce region (which is blessed with immense hydrocarbon wealth) as the head of MWH Middle East, what are your thoughts about the economics of water in the MENA region?
Like oil, water is not equitably distributed. Some countries, for example Canada, have far more water than they can use; most countries in the Middle East have much less than they need. In fact, the Middle East and North Africa region is the most water scarce region, and rapidly growing populations are placing ever-increasing demands on the limited resources.
Water distribution systems are complex, difficult to characterise, and prone to infrastructure aging and deterioration, water quality degradation, and capacity shortages.
Within the next 50 years, an investment of more than $1 trillion will be needed to upgrade and rehabilitate existing systems — and, more than half of humanity will still be living with water shortages. The World Bank reports that 80 countries now have severe water shortages that threaten health and economies, while 40% of the world — more than two billion people — have no access to clean water or sanitation. A recent United Nations report estimates that at least two million people, most of them children, die annually from waterborne diseases. Per capita availability is declining sharply, along with the region’s food output, since the vast majority of its water is used for irrigation.
Compounding the problem, the hydrologic cycle is becoming less predictable as climate change continues to significantly alter temperature patterns in the region (and around the globe). There is an urgent need for a comprehensive water management plan to conserve and produce water, match consumption with supply, improve groundwater management and water quality through wastewater collection and treatment, implement more effective irrigation practices, evaluate alternative measures for water reuse, and public education.
Only by finding innovative solutions to the scarcity and imbalance of the world’s water supplies and ensuring distribution of safe drinking water will we be able to create a better world for our children and future generations.
How do you think your career and experience will be most applicable in this geography?
I know the area well; it is the proud region of my birth. My goal is to partner with the local governments and help them best manage their water resources challenges — including the economy of water, integrated water resources management, water security, water quality, water loss reduction, and sustainable water management. Like every dedicated engineer, I measure the value of my life’s work by what it contributes to the future happiness and well-being of others. It is the essence of our noble profession. What we do matters.
You also wear the hat of President and Chief Operating Officer of MWH Soft. What are the underlying issues in water modelling today? What can the new generation simulation/modelling software do (and cannot do) in resolving these issues?
To manage water distribution systems effectively, you need user-friendly computer models that integrate geographical information systems or GIS (for visualisation and spatial database management and analysis) with fast and robust numerical network hydraulic, water quality and transient solvers and optimisation techniques. These models give water engineers a comprehensive decision-support tool. For integrated catchment modelling, the software has to combine a GIS with complex hydrodynamic and hydrological models in order to assess the total impact of flood risk and emissions on receiving water quality and conceive sound remedial procedures. These advanced technologies are now available, and they’re being widely used in support of water and wastewater management.
How can the benefits of simulation/ modelling help top level decision-making?
Network simulation and modelling can greatly assist water utilities in making informed decisions to ensure the most cost and energy and carbon efficient water systems – from ongoing operation and maintenance to rehabilitation, enhancement, expansion, and new design. The resulting benefits are significant. They include OPEX and CAPEX savings; improved system reliability, integrity and performance; better customer service; and protection against adverse health and environmental effects.
As a wet infrastructure leader, how is MWH helping clients address concerns over climate change and global warming?
Our clients are facing significant environmental Dr. Paul F Boulos and economic pressures caused by resource scarcity, population growth and climate change. MWH provides innovative, sustainable solutions that positively impact not only the environment, but our clients’ bottom line. Tools, such as our mCO2 calculate greenhouse gas emissions to assist clients in developing carbon management programmes. From the construction of biomass, hydropower, solar and wind energy facilities to the design of PV solar panel facilities and wind farms, we are building a better world in the wet infrastructure sector. We offer extensive expertise in the areas of Resource Efficiency Management and Strategic Resource Management which cover a wide spectrum of critical areas, including watershed planning, water quality monitoring, climate change planning, integrated energy management, water loss reduction, energy-efficient desalination processes, renewable energy development, green cities planning, community education, and world-class, world-leading programme management.
Because of our corporate purpose of Building a Better World, we focus our efforts in communities, too. Our employees have made a Climate Change Commitment which includes educational outreach. Last year, MWH engineers and staff volunteered personal time to help young students understand the impact of their actions in the area of climate change. In the first year of the programme, we reached over 5,000 students, leaving a lasting impression on our future leaders.
From your subject area and expertise standpoints, what are the main challenges for water utilities in the MENA region today? How can they use technology to their advantage?
Water demand management and sustainability of water supply are certainly important challenges for water utilities in the MENA region now. Today’s technology can help them successfully meet the challenge of strengthening, expanding and sustaining the region’s hydraulic infrastructures, replenishing groundwater reserves, and using renewable energy for desalination while reducing the carbon emission of water and energy production processes.
Water distribution systems account for the biggest chunk of drinking water supply infrastructure. Could you elaborate on some of the management challenges from operational and health standpoints that water utilities here should be prepared to address?
Drinking water supply and distribution systems generally constitute the largest expenditure for nearly all water utilities worldwide, often accounting for 80% of capital costs alone. Today, water utilities rely heavily on hydraulic network simulation models to plan improvements and design, operate and manage better systems. Each water distribution management activity must be modelled and analysed accurately if the distribution system is to provide the desired level of reliability and performance that meets both hydraulic and water quality objectives, at minimum costs.
What are your comments on the water/energy nexus? On a narrower note, how can we embed energy efficiency into water distribution infrastructure?
Supplying drinking water and industrial water consumes large amounts of electricity — as much as two to 10% of a country’s total electricity usage. Energy costs generally constitute the largest expenditure for nearly all water utilities worldwide, and they can consume 65% of a water utility’s annual operating budget. One of the greatest potential areas for energy cost savings in this field is the scheduling of daily pump operations. Energy-saving measures in water supply and distribution systems can be realised in many other ways, from field testing and proper maintenance of equipment to the use of optimal computer control. Energy usage can be reduced by decreasing the volume of water pumped (example, adjusting pressure zone boundaries and dynamic pressure regulation to minimise leakage losses); the head against which water is pumped (example, optimising tank water level range); or the cost of energy (example, avoiding peak hour pumping and making effective use of storage tanks, for example filling them during offpeak periods and draining them during peak periods). They can also ensure that they are operating near peak efficiency). Utilities can further reduce energy costs by implementing on-line telemetry and control systems (SCADA), and by managing their energy consumption more effectively and improving overall operations using network computer models that optimise pumping operations and reservoir control.
Computer models can greatly assist water distribution system operators in selecting cost-effective pumping policies that reduce both operational (power) costs and carbon footprints and provide more reliable operations. These approaches improve the operational efficiency of drinking water distribution systems, optimise storage/pumping tradeoffs, evaluate various rate schedules, and assure safer and more reliable operations at maximum cost savings.
What would you regard as your major accomplishments and proud moments in your 20-year plus career with MWH in the water sector?
It would be the founding of MWH Soft, a customer-centric engineering software firm that serves and supports its customers with incredible passion and great care, continuously delivering innovative solutions that help engineers envision, design, build, operate, maintain and secure highly efficient and reliable water and wastewater systems. We take pride in being a vital part of their work. In just 13 years, our talented, dedicated people have made MWH Soft the world’s leading provider of water and wastewater modelling and simulation technology, and the most recognised and respected brand in the industry. Our clients now include the vast majority of the UK, Australasia and the largest North American cities, foremost utilities on all five continents, and many of the largest design firms. MWH Soft engineers have redefined the state of the art in our industry, advanced our noble profession, stayed on the leading edge of clients’ needs, and contributed to building a better world by helping people across the globe live happier, healthier, and more satisfying lives. Every day they are transforming lives in the most positive ways. These accomplishments are theirs. The pride they inspire is shared by all of us.
