Английский язык.Civil Engineering

4.11 Now give a short summary of the text above, using expressions (page137).

Unit V: Reforming the Sector of Water and Sewage Utilities

5.1 Read and try to memorize the words.

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5.2 Read and translate international words into Russian.

natural, total, centralized, reform, municipal, infrastructure, sector, station, massive, recourses, dominance, economic, area, situation, budgetary.

5.3 Read, translate and memorize the following wordcombinations.

to become a threat to, centralized water supply, urban-type settlements, the total length of the water mains, the capacity of watersupply systems, according to figures, the degree of wear and tear, sewerage networks, inadequate management system.

5.4 Read the text “The Situation in the Sector of Water and Sewage Utilities in Russia” and:

–characterize the situation in the sector of water and sewage utilities in Russia. Give examples illustrating your words.

–say why the situation in the sector of water and sewage utilities in Russia is considered to be critical.

The Situation in the Sector of Water and Sewage Utilities in

Russia

Now the situation in the housing and utility sector in Russia is on the way to become a threat to the social and economic growth of the nation. According to figures from the Ministry of Natural Resources of the Russian Federation, the services of centralized water supply are available to 30 % of all population centers in the Russian Federation, with the services of centralized sewerage available to a mere 5.5 %,

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including in towns to 99 % and 97 % of the population respectively, in settlements 93 % and 74 %, in rural areas no more than 29 % and 4 %.

The country has a total of 8801 water-supply systems, with centralized water supply used by 106.5 mln people resident in 1092 towns and 1872 urban-type settlements. The total length of the water mains in Russia’s population centers is 463.0 thousand km, including 200.9 thousand km in towns (43 %). The capacity of water-supply systems is estimated at 90.0 mln cbm / day, with towns accounting for about 71.0 mln cbm / day (79 %).

To date, the condition of Russia’s utilities, and in particular of the water and sewage utilities, is considered critical. According to figures from the Federal Agency for Construction, Housing and Utilities, as of the beginning of 2005, the degree of wear and tear on public utility infrastructure facilities in certain municipal entities (городские объекты) is as high as 70-80 %, with the degree of wear and tear increasing by 2-3 % annually.

In the sector of water and sewage utilities the wear and tear on property (имущество), plant and equipment ranges from 50 to 70 %. Specifically, the wear and tear of water mains is 65.3 %, of sewerage networks 62.5 %, of water-supply pumping stations 65.1 %, of sewerage pumping stations 57.1 %, of water purification facilities 53.9 %, of sewage treatment facilities 56.2 %.

Such situation is the result of inadequate management system, dominance of political expediency (целесообразность) over economic considerations in the area of tariff regulation, unsatisfactory financial situation, high costs, massive losses of power, water and other resources.

5.5 Find the right translation. Match A with B.

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5.6 Read the text “Russian Water Industry remains at Crossroads” and find the answers to the following questions:

1.What is one of the major problems in Russia?

2.How much of total reserves of drinking water in Russia currently does not meet sanitary standards?

3.All people in Russia have access to quality drinking water, don’t they?

4.Is the current status of the Russian water supply system satisfactory or not? Why?

5.For how long has the reform of the sector of housing and public utilities been in progress? Is it a success?

6.What is the main objective of reforming and modernizing the utilities in Russia as set by the Government of the Russian Federation?

7.What should be done to fulfill this task?

Russian Water Industry Remains at Crossroads

One of the major problems in Russia is the need for a full-scale reform of the Russian water industry.

According to the Russian authorities, between 35 % to 60 % of total reserves of drinking water in Russia currently do not meet sanitary standards, with 40 % of surface and 17 % of underground spring water considered as impotable.

Moreover, the level of pollution in Russian rivers and lakes from agricultural and industrial waste exceeds all the minimum standards. Nearly 11 million people in Russia do not have access to safe drinking water, while around 50 million people drink water with high iron levels.

The current status of the Russian water supply system leaves much to be desired. According to local experts, almost 30 % of all the Russian water pipes need to be replaced in the near future, however only 1.5 % of them are replaced each year.

An average project that involves the reconstruction of water pipes has a payback period of eight years. If the project starts from now, this period increases up to 12 years, which is too long for the

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Russian economy. However, even if the volume of repair works was to be increased several times, this would still not be sufficient to solve the problem of delivering clean water to consumers. At present, the Russian water-economic complex requires constant budget investments to at least keep it in its present condition and to prevent further deterioration. According to analysts’ estimates, most of the Russian water pipes should be changed during the next two or three years due to their emergency condition. At the same time, according to certain analysts, the only way out of this situation is to apply modern technologies to boost (повышать) water supply.

The reform of the sector of housing and public utilities has been in progress for more than 10 years now. The Russian Government first focused its efforts on the problems of the public-service sector in 1997, when an RF Presidential Decree was passed, called “On the reform of the housing and utilities sector in the Russian Federation”.

The primary objective of reforming and modernizing the utilities, as set by the Government of the Russian Federation, is to put in place conditions for bringing the public utility infrastructure to conformity with the quality standards that ensure comfortable living conditions. So, the main tasks are:

–to modernize public utility infrastructure facilities;

–to improve the performance of management of public utility infrastructure facilities;

–to attract funds from extra budgetary sources (including the funds of private investors, credit funds and savings of citizens) to finance the projects to modernize the facilities of public utility infrastructure.

5.7Read the text “Housing and Utilities Reform: Get Ready to Economize” and choose the right answer to the following questions:

1. The chief objective of the program in the housing and utilities sector is … the domination of the local monopolies.

a) to strengthen b) to weaken c) to develop 2. The share of privatized housing in the total volume of the housing stock in Russia is … percent.

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a)to stop paying for electricity, gas and water consumption

b)to save electricity, gas and water

Housing and Utilities Reform: Get Ready to Economize

The government has adopted a program to demonopolize, and develop competition in the housing and utilities sector in 1998-1999. Its chief objective is to weaken the domination of the local monopolies responsible for water, electricity and gas supplies, and central heating.

Russia has come up with the West in the share of privatized housing in the total volume of the housing stock – 55 percent. As for the rest, Russia will take a long time to catch up with. This is particularly true of measures to economize. In Russia, for example, 35 percent to 45 percent of tap water gets lost in the networks before it reaches homes. To compare, the figure for the United States is 12 percent, and for Japan 11 percent. One water-supply worker in the US serves 1,500 persons; in Japan, 1,700, whereas in Russia only 300 persons.

It’s a different matter that Tokyo’s or Stockholm’s utilities networks are in a better condition than those of Russian cities, and do not need endless repairs. In Europe trenches are not dug out in front of apartment buildings every summer. It is, therefore, not ruled out (исключать) that the authorities will soon face another housing and utilities problem: how, while lowering tariffs, to maintain the watersupply and sewage systems in the cities? If even in Moscow the

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relaying (замена) of networks can turn into a tragedy, one can imagine the consequences, if this happens in a small town. The authorities said that all repairs could be done with the help of commercial credits. But this is possible in a big city, not in a provincial town.

The monopolies’ tariffs must be clear and simple, and the monopolies themselves must come under tough (строгий, жесткий) control.

Adjusting the economy “from below” is another matter. Gas and water meters were never installed in Russian homes; houses are built according to obsolete (устаревший) standards.

This problem will soon be solved. For example, builders will be obliged to fix water and gas meters in homes. For example, in St. Petersburg, the installation of these meters cost only $ 350 per apartment, and this will decrease water and gas consumption by a factor of two or three. But this measure will work only in newly-built houses. What about the old ones? Should tenants be obliged (обязанным) to set up their own meters? No one will be willing to pay $ 350 for that. They would rather stop paying than save electricity, gas and water.

The problem with all Russian reforms is that they cannot be carried out stage by stage: changes must be carried out quickly. This also applies to the housing and utilities sector. The government will have to compel the monopolies to cut costs, builders to build better houses, and tenants to put off their lights when light is not needed. And all this has to be done at the same time.

From Moscow News by Svetlana Babayeva

5.8 Speak on the problem of Housing and Utilities Reform in

Russia. The following phrases can help you to organize the

information:

First of all I’d like to say that ...

In my opinion ...

I’d like to stress that ...

Then, ...

If I’m not mistaken ...

As for ...

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On the one hand, ...

On the other hand, ...

Moreover, …

In addition, ...

In fact, ...

No wonder that ...

In conclusion I’d like to say that ...

Unit VI: How the Staff Works

6.1 Read and try to memorize the words

6.2 Translate the word-combinations:

one of the leading enterprises in the field, the history goes back to, results of a recent contest, housing and public utilities system, the main water source, water is taken from … and channeled to, to be in charge of, to be replaced by, to be checked by means of, powdered activated carbon, to solve the sludge disposal problem, to have an effective customer feedback system, to be in operation, to give much attention to.

6.3 Now study the text about the main points of the company’s activities and prove that State Unitary Enterprise “Vodokanal of St. Petersburg” is on the front line in its field.

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Vodokanal Today

Do you know that State Unitary Enterprise (SUE) “Vodokanal of St. Petersburg” is one of the leading enterprises in the field of water supply and water disposal? The history of this enterprise goes back to 10 October, 1858, when the Charter of “St. Petersburg Water Pipelines Joint-Stock Company” was approved by Alexander II. According to the results of a recent contest of the State Committee for Construction of the Russian Federation Vodokanal of St. Petersburg was named the best enterprise of the Russian housing and public utilities system for the year 2000.

The State Unitary Enterprise “Vodokanal of St. Petersburg” provides water and sanitation services to the City of St. Petersburg. It is the country’s biggest public utility and one of the key municipal companies in St. Petersburg.

“Vodokanal of St.Petersburg” provides drinking water to the population of 4,568,000 people (as of 01.01.2008) as well as to companies and organizations of the city. Vodokanal’s activities include the following:

–Water intake and water treatment;

–Water distribution.

St.Petersburg takes water from surface and underground sources. The main water source is the Neva River; more than 96 % of water is taken from the Neva and channeled to 5 major waterworks: By 2009, the length of the water distribution networks was 6,391.4 km. The length of sewer networks – 7936.4 km, of tunnel sewers – 221.15 km. Moreover, Vodokanal operates the city fountains and fountain complexes; it is in charge of rehabilitation, capital

repairs, purchase and operation of public toilets.

Table 1

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Main achievements of SUE “Vodokanal of St. Petersburg” in the field of water treatment:

•All potable water supplied to the city is UV-treated to ensure epidemiologic safety;

•Liquid chlorine is no more used for water disinfection; it is replaced by hazard-free, non-toxic sodium hypochlorite;

•Hazard-free and non-toxic ammonia sulfate is used for water ammonation instead of ammonia solutions;

•Water condition in the Neva is checked by means of a biomonitoring system where crayfish act as chief inspectors;

•PAC (powdered activated carbon) dosing is implemented to remove odors and oil.

Main achievements of SUE “Vodokanal of St. Petersburg” in the field of wastewater treatment:

•Around 91 % of all wastewater was treated in St. Petersburg by the end of 2009; the percentage will be 98 % by 2015;

•Petersburg has solved the sludge disposal problem: three sludge incineration (сжигание) plants are in operation in the city;

•The treatment plants in Petersburg have implemented the enhanced nutrient (phosphorus and nitrogen) removal process to meet the HELCOM recommendations. The process helps reduce the biological burden (бремя) on the Neva, the Gulf of Finland and the Baltic Sea.

Vodokanal has an effective customer feedback system. Since 2004, a round-the-clock “Hot Line” has been in operation where one can get any information about Vodokanal activities.

By the end of 2009, the staff of SUE “Vodokanal of St. Petersburg” was 7,758 people.

Vodokanal gives much attention to education. It has its Information and Training Centre which comprises the Youth Environmental Centre and “The Universe of Water” museum complex.

6.4Look though the table once again and explain its figures.

6.5Look though the text once again and give its short summary

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