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Winwater’s parent company, Winsupply, is a national organization with the resources and reach to help us fulfill everything our clients need. Having connections with a larger organization is useful to us and the community, and serving our community is what drives everything we do. Winwater may be a part of a bigger company, but we are rooted in our Lincoln, Nebraska home. The Lincoln Winwater location has been around for nearly 15 years—providing essential water infrastructure and helping the city grow. Our work helps deliver clean water to schools, homes and businesses all across the Lincoln area. The majority of times you see new construction in Lincoln, Winwater is there to supply water infrastructure that is built to last. Helping our community grow and providing it with clean water is a huge point of pride for Winwater. Not only do we create new infrastructure in our community, we also upgrade aging infrastructure so neighborhoods and businesses don’t have to worry about their water supply. Our connection with our community and our commitment to develop and upgrade our infrastructure has given us many opportunities to give back to our neighbors over the years. Today, we’re pulling a story from the archives about a remarkable time Winwater teamed up with several other local companies to help a family in a time of need. - It was 2012 and the Warta family was learning to live without running water. Carol Warta was collecting rainwater to flush the toilets and wash the dishes—to simply get by until she could find a solution. There was a leak in the water service line of the Warta’s Ashland, Nebraska home. In Ashland, fixing a leak of that kind is the responsibility of the homeowner. However, the Wartas couldn’t afford the $8,000 repair bill, so the city of Ashland eventually shut off their water entirely. Fortunately, several local organizations came together to help the family out—because no one should be without water. General Excavating helped dig out the leaky water line in the Warta’s backyard. Tinius Plumbing offered their services to fix the line. Voss Construction repaired the hole in the backyard. And Winwater was proud to provide the new water line and any other necessary materials. Each of us offered our services free of charge to help our neighbors out of an extraordinary situation. The Warta family ended up with a state of the art water system, and they got their running water back without debt. While this story is from several years ago, we love to share it as a reminder of the immense value of running water and the impact our work can have on others. Water is absolutely essential, and Winwater is proud to provide peace of mind and security through our reliable water infrastructure products. Reach out to us if you have a project we can lend our expertise to, or if you have any questions about Winwater’s services.

At Winwater, we supply the pipes, valves, fittings and water management services that keep fresh water flowing through our homes and businesses. Most of the work we do is hidden underground or in walls, so it can be hard to grasp the scale and importance of water infrastructure. However, the pipes that run under our feet are essential to our health, safety and everyday lives. Winwater helps ensure you have running water wherever you go, and we also help contain and manage water on a much larger scale. Water impacts everything, so evidence of Winwater’s work is everywhere. Today, we’re rounding up some recent news stories involving the water infrastructure industry. Companies like Winwater are caring for our water supply and our safety all the time. So even if you don’t see Winwater products every day, you’ll see our industry at work in the news solving problems and protecting our water supply. Nebraska Water Supply Issues According to the Nebraska Water Resources Association (NWRA), Nebraska is on track for the demand for water to outpace the supply of water available to fill the need. Droughts after the recent floods have diminished the renewable water supply in Nebraska. A drought can leave Nebraska communities potentially vulnerable to water shortages, and leaves our agriculture industry in a precarious position. The impacts of a water shortage can also ripple out to affect communities in a variety of ways—especially areas dependent on agriculture. If farmers struggle to sufficiently irrigate their crops, the value of their land will drop and lower the amount of property taxes the local schools receive. Declining water supplies threaten: Crops and livestock, and the entire agriculture industry. Production of electricity and energy for individuals and businesses. Municipal drinking water and wells. Recreation, tourism and conservation. Nebraska’s ability to comply with compacts, contracts and agreements. Organizations like the NWRA and companies like Winwater can come together to remedy the effects of a drought, but it will take concerted funding and resources. Currently, the Nebraska Water Funding Task Force is recommending an annual funding amount of $50 million to create innovative solutions to Nebraska’s water supply obstacles. To preserve Nebraska’s water supply for years to come, it is in Nebraska’s best interest to invest $50 million each year to complete the $900 million in the state’s proposed water sustainability projects, which include: Ensuring clean supply of municipal water, flood control and aquifer recharge. Studies, modeling and research to determine the most appropriate tools and resources to maintain water sustainability. Winwater and Local Business Projects Winwater and other local businesses are working everyday to upgrade and expand water infrastructure all across the state. Lincoln Winwater just secured a new job in Syracuse, Nebraska. We will be installing approximately 50,500 LF of 16-inch PVC transmission main and 2,250 LF OF 18-inch HDPE transmission main—including valves, fittings, hydrants, air release manholes and leak detection manholes. Also, Nebraska-based engineering consulting firm, Miller & Associates, is working with the Little Blue Natural Resources District in Davenport, Nebraska, to put in 7 miles of 16-inch PVC to expand their water distribution area. Stories like these cross the desks of local officials every day, showing how much influence water and water infrastructure have on our day to day lives. Quality water infrastructure changes lives, and Winwater is here to keep providing the best in piping and water management so our communities can continue to enjoy a clean water supply.

At Winwater, we’re proud to always provide contractors with the right quantities of the right materials so they can do their jobs efficiently. And for all our municipal customers, we make sure we partner with the best vendors to supply their projects and support their work. Our team has assisted customers all throughout the construction process, and we’ve seen firsthand how construction bidding influences our industry. Construction and infrastructure bidding is competitive, but it is essential to the success of any contracting organization. More successful bids equals more work and more revenue. Winwater cares deeply about optimizing our customers’ work in every way, and we have a few tips to help streamline your construction bidding game. Partner with Trusted Suppliers New contractors have to start somewhere, and one of the biggest challenges they face is finding and winning the right work. Unlike their more seasoned competitors, those newer to construction have to build a reputation from the ground up, and that lack of experience can make it hard to land projects. Before you make a name for yourself, people may not seek you out, so the key early on is to build a network of trusted suppliers to help and hone in on your specialties. Fortunately, you can work with suppliers and vendors who are experts at what they do. They understand the needs of each job, not just what’s on the plans. With their expertises, you can identify potential constructability issues together before the job even bids. When working with a supplier, you can ensure the contractor’s bid is complete, resulting in fewer change orders and less opportunity for discord during the project. Bid on Jobs You’re Confident You Can Win Before you submit a bid on any project, take a careful look at the job itself to make sure it aligns with your team and capabilities. Check the client, the designer, the plans, specifications and the other bidders so you can get a full picture of where you stand in the bidding process. And if you have seasoned suppliers in your arsenal, they can provide valuable insights into the competitive landscape of the project and the relationship with the engineer or owner. If the project aligns with your team’s work, you have partnered with the right supplier, the client is professional and you have the resources to be a competitive bidder, you should be on solid footing as you submit a bid. In order to maintain a healthy workflow, avoid bidding on projects that are too big for your team or trying to do too many jobs at once. Seek work that will push your team to learn new things, but make sure it’s still practically achievable in your timelines and budget. The key to successful bidding is getting your name out there and carefully calculating the benefits and risks of any given project. When you chase after projects ideal for your firm, you can keep hitting them out of the park and grow your operation. And through it all, Winwater is here to supply and assist your work and support your team.

Eric Leatherman has been with Lincoln Winwater since day one in 2007. He worked his way up to become our president and is now an area leader for our parent company Winsupply. Here’s a look at the underground infrastructure industry, Winwater’s capabilities and a career in infrastructure supply from his storied perspective. How did you get started in the infrastructure supply industry? I used to work as a delivery driver at another supply company in the industrial pipe, valve and fitting market. There was an underground wholesaler on the same street as Winwater is now and they ended up closing their doors. My colleagues and I then decided to teach ourselves how to work in the underground market. After figuring everything out for a year and a half, we were able to support a store and open up Lincoln Winwater in September 2007. So basically, I’ve been here since the beginning. What education and career path do people tend to follow to work at Winwater? There are a bunch of paths you can take to get here. We recruit pretty heavily from the University of Nebraska-Kearney’s industrial distribution program, but our team comes from all sorts of places. I started as a delivery driver and worked my way up for six and a half years before I started Winwater. The key, regardless of your educational background, is that you’re trainable and willing to learn and work hard. What is day-to-day life at Winwater like? My role has recently transitioned into an area leader for Winsupply. I’m still involved with Winwater, just from the perspective of the larger Winsupply organization. But when I was president of Lincoln Winwater, my day-to-day mostly involved people development and making sure our 22 employees have all the tools they need to do the best job possible. My general philosophy as a manager is that I don’t want to teach people how to do a job, I want to teach them how to think. Our culture as a team is really important to me and I’m proud that we are a bunch of problem solvers who know how and when to do the right thing. What kind of projects does Winwater take on? Anything in the infrastructure industry that requires water, wastewater, pipes and valves is our bread and butter. We do water mains, sanitary sewer lines for municipalities, storm water runoff and erosion control. We often find ourselves working with the people building new buildings or repairing highways and bridges. You would mostly associate water infrastructure with buildings and sewers, and Winwater does a lot of that, but we also make sure roadways are safe from floods and erosion. After the floods in Nebraska a few years ago, Winwater used miles and miles of piping to help fix the broken dam by Spencer, Nebraska. Our products helped stabilize the soil around the roads until vegetation took hold again and we worked to reconnect that county’s running water. How does Winwater make itself stand out in this industry? I’m really proud of how we always commit to a project and never leave anyone hanging. You can always expect someone from Winwater to pick up the phone or return your call with a game plan for whatever question you have. The loyalty we have to our customers and our drive to do our job the right way set Winwater apart. We do things a more old-school way—honest, hardworking and real. Are there any projects you’re particularly excited about? It’s hard to pick because all of our work is so different. The piping we did for the Spencer dam meant a lot because we helped bring water to a community that needed it. But we get to be a part of so many great construction projects too. As someone who has lived in Lincoln for so long, I’m proud that my team helped create so many important parts of town. Winwater supplied and helped install the heating and cooling lines for Pinnacle Bank Arena. We’ve supplied the piping for all the new schools built in the past 10 years. There’s Winwater pipe all over Lincoln; it’s just mostly underground. When we’re driving around, my kids can point out blue or green pipes and know they’re from Winwater. You watched Winwater grow from the ground up in 13 years. What are you most proud of? The success of the people who work here is what I’m most proud of. We’ve mentored people who started without much knowledge of the underground infrastructure industry and now are running their own Winwater companies. It’s an honor to teach and lead people who then go on to teach and lead others.

The past year has been unique in many regards, but the beginning of 2021 brings a light at the end of the tunnel and the chance to evaluate what work the water infrastructure industry needs to complete this year. At Winwater, we’re excited to maintain our focus on infrastructure improvement and innovation in our communities. A recent study from the American Society of Civil Engineers highlights how underinvesting in water supply infrastructure has deep repercussions that can dampen our communities’ economic pandemic recovery. Water system failures could increase utility costs for American households by more than seven times over the next 20 years, and businesses that rely on large quantities of water can be put at immense risk by infrastructure breakdowns. In 2021, we can work to educate others how investing in high-quality water infrastructure materials will save everyone money in the long run and lower the risk of water supply issues. Winwater is proud to offer efficient, effective piping infrastructure supplies to everyone responsible for our water systems. This is an excellent time to focus on the ways our industry can help refresh the world by making our water framework run smoother than ever. When people invest in water infrastructure, opportunities for our industry to work and grow appear everywhere. Many exciting projects are kicking off all across the country this year—keep an eye out for how they’ll impact the industry. In Texas, for example, the North Texas Municipal Water District is updating its meter vaults, transitioning in four water treatment plants and constructing a pump station and a ground storage tank. And the Northwest Florida Water Management District is investing in restoring waterways and watersheds, developing their water supply management and collecting data to streamline future projects. Construction and progress are happening all over because people are investing in their water systems. And with continued economic revitalization, the opportunities will continue to spread. Water is our greatest public resource—all people and businesses rely on it. And our industry works tirelessly to provide this resource cleanly and efficiently to all. We at Winwater are excited to take on this year’s projects with you. We’ll be here to supply the best products and the best fusion and live main tapping services for any job you need to get done.

There’s no question that 2020 certainly has been one for the record books. It’s been an uncertain year of constant change and adaptation. For many, it’s been an uncomfortable year full of personal and economic stress. It’s also been a tragic year of loss for some. There have been major, global pivots in the ways we stay safe, run our households, connect with others and conduct business. Many of the changes we’ve had to make since February have been to keep us safe. The concept of social distancing, and in extreme cases, sheltering in place, brought a change in the way we interact with colleagues, friends and family. Wearing a mask for the protection of others has now become common and expected whenever you travel outside the home to a place of business. The importance of good hygiene and washing your hands with clean, readily available water has been at the forefront of prevention measures for contracting not only COVID-19 but many transmittable diseases. With the pandemic, we’ve become more informed than we’ve ever been. Now we have multiple local and national dashboards to show us everything we want to know about current COVID case counts, the number of tests and their positivity rates, the cases by age and gender among other important metrics. We have easy-to-understand risk dials that distill the raw data into a simple format that informs us of the ways we can help our community by preventing the spread of COVID-19. Not only are our children more adept at remote learning, but there's also more educational opportunity for our industry available online than ever before. We’ve also changed the way we work. A year ago, using a digital application like Zoom would have been unheard of for attending large industry conferences or meeting with potential clients. Now it’s the norm as people are forced to adopt these new technologies to do business. We’ve also had to change the way we deliver and serve our customers by offering curbside pickup, temporarily closing our counter and using contactless delivery. As a nation, there’s also been an increase in the recognition and protection of essential workers: the frontline healthcare providers, retail workers at grocery stores and the people like those at Winwater who keep supply chains for the critical infrastructures of our country running. With all this said, I’m reminded—at this time of year especially—that no matter how much disruption we feel, some things haven’t changed. First is the need for our country to invest in the critical infrastructure of water and sanitation. The World Health Organization says, “The provision of safe water, sanitation and waste management and hygienic conditions is essential for preventing and for protecting human health during all infectious disease outbreaks, including of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Here at Winwater, we have been here and we will remain here to support those that install and maintain this critical infrastructure. The second thing that hasn’t changed is the value of a local partner distributor. As supply chains were being disrupted all across the globe and lead times increased to several months, partnering with a vendor that believes in investing heavily in local inventory like Lincoln Winwater has kept job sites running, water and sewer lines flowing and cities supplied with material for repairs. Finally, and most importantly, what hasn’t changed is the value of relationships. I’m proud of the relationships that we have with our customers, our partner vendors and our employees. Together we’ve done amazing things to keep our business growing. As we approach the end of the year, I think we can look back on the challenges we’ve faced and be proud—of not only surviving, but thriving, through some of the most challenging and rapidly changing conditions of our time. With all the changes we’ve seen in the world in 2020, I shouldn’t be surprised at something that hasn’t changed: the power of the employees at Lincoln Winwater to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

When planning pipe infrastructure, every variable matters. To maximize safety and efficiency while minimizing time and cost, you have to consider your materials, the pressure they will work under and most importantly—how all the pieces fit together. Fusion in any form—butt, saddle, socket or electrofusion—is quite literally what fits all the pieces of piping together. And at Winwater, we have multiple fusion experts on staff to make sure this crucial step in your project goes smoothly. The Winwater team is composed of factory-certified fusion technicians who have been working on pipelines for years. We’ll come to your job site, ready to take on any fusion project you have for us. Our butt, saddle, socket and electrofusion methods are available on piping as narrow as half an inch and as wide as 36 inches or more. We work efficiently, precisely and professionally to move your job forward as much as we can. Our method for fusing high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe is to prepare the ends of the HDPE pipes to fit together, apply heat to the pipe ends and then use carefully calculated force to push the pipes together and permanently lock them in place. Fusion machines of all sizes prepare, heat and fuse HDPE pipes securely every time under our watch. With these machines, we follow all standards of fusion to ensure the pipes are sufficiently connected with the right amount of force applied for the right amount of time. By putting safety and regulations first, Winwater leaves no room for mistakes that cause inefficiencies and danger. A pipeline without proper fusions can lead to major problems. Weak points in the pipeline can cause leaks or even full-on bursts. Leaving anything to chance is dangerous and could impose costly down-time and repairs on your team. The ramifications of shoddy fusion can be severe, so Winwater’s fusion experts proactively ensure their work is unbreakable. When working with Winwater on fusion, you can rely on us to consider every aspect of fusion while you think ahead to the rest of the project. We’ll inspect the fused pipe with you before it gets placed and continue moving your infrastructure forward. By entrusting Winwater with fusion, you can save time and free up your attention to focus on the multiple other facets of HDPE pipe placement. Reach out to our team today about your fusion needs. Simplify your projects and get experts on your side—for fusion and beyond.

With the holiday season upon us, it seems fitting we reflect on a very unique year. We are in the midst of living history—a piece of our lives that will forever tie us together. No matter where you are in the world, there is no corner of this planet that hasn’t been affected by COVID-19. Experts say the economic impact of the pandemic will reverberate for decades to come. Unemployment rose higher in the first three months of COVID-19 than it did in two years of the Great Recession. The economic downturn swelled the ranks of unemployed Americans by more than 14 million. So now, we would like to take a moment to share how grateful we are to be considered “essential workers” amidst such a difficult, pivotal time. It goes without saying, but water is essential to all of us—and we make water work. Despite all the difficulties this year brought, COVID-19 brought us a few new opportunities as well. Along with several tough decisions and redirections many have had to take, some general reports demonstrate a few benefits of fighting a pandemic: Closer community connections - New, social distancing friendly support groups have sprung up around the world. Concerts and singalongs have been taking place from patios—bringing people together with neighbors they may have never spoken to before. Clearer waterways - Venice’s waterways are clearer than they have been for years as COVID-19 lockdowns halted traffic in the usually busy canals. Better sleep - Some studies of those who use sleep analysis apps have shown that more flexible work-from-home schedules have improved sleep quality with people getting more REM/deep sleep. Focusing on what really matters - With social distancing and the lack of events and gatherings, people are spending more time alone and considering what is truly important to them. People are more open to habit changes at times of upheaval, so the lockdown is a big opportunity to make lifestyle changes. All in all, it’s been a history-making year. And we at Winwater hope that you and yours, given the upheaval of our world, have found some joy within the chaos of the pandemic of 2020. Winwater is fortunate to supply the resources necessary for the underground water infrastructure that is essential to us all. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve each of you, and continue into the new year.

Pain points, every system or structure has them. Learning to recognize pain points as strategic steps in your planning process could be the very thinking pivot that offers the solutions to what was once deemed a pain point. So, what does that mean see a pain point as a strategy? Winwater is the best at what we do because of the partnerships we leverage. Those partnerships have come organically over the years as the needs of underground infrastructure have developed and grown to meet the needs of the general public. What could be a pain point in policy of planning, funding, design, engineering, construction, project management most often, in fact nine times out of ten has to do with having the right information. Additionally, having the right people to talk to about the pieces of the project that need clarity. Douglas Adam might have said it best when he said, “A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof is to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools.” May seem brash but the wrong information for certain when talking about underground infrastructure, is the one difference we at Winwater have mastered - we connect you with those who have wisdom through experience in the field to get you the correct and most up-to-date information. The greatest knowledge anyone can share is the understanding they have gained from going through similar experiences. When it comes to engineering, “engineering problems are under-defined, there are many solutions, good, bad and indifferent. The art is to arrive at a good solution. This is a creative activity, involving imagination, intuition and deliberate choice,” Ove Arup. When it comes to underground infrastructure, deliberate choices with defined solutions will help teams pivot their thinking from a “pain point” to a “strategy for success.” Information consolidation increases the likelihood of success. In short, that means alignment on approach, executed with a workflow that defines the strategy behind alignment, will eliminate most, if not all, pain points you may encounter when engineering and executing underground infrastructure.