Thirty-two years in the pipeline

I've owned MATCOR for over 32 years. That’s a long time -- and a heckuva lot of industry changes. Buildings are taller. Infrastructure is bigger and more complex. And the country has grown at a rip-roaring pace.

Yet you’d be surprised how much hasn't changed.

Take Forestville, N.Y., for instance. Some water pipes around town date back to President Lincoln’s day. I don't know about you, but I'd feel pretty uncomfortable drinking molecules that might have washed into the earth over 150 years ago.

Obviously, some of these pipe systems are reliable and long-lasting. Nonetheless, they still need to be replaced. Even pipes made of brick have corroded to a degree. This will be a costly investment for Forestville and similar towns across the U.S., but it's a necessary investment that can't wait another 150 years.

Perhaps U.S. Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) said it best: "We have an antiquated infrastructure. We really need to help our localities protect the water and also the public health."

It's been a long time coming ... isn't now the perfect time for a change?