Across the nation, the story is the same: Critical water infrastructure is failing at an alarming rate. Broken mains, aging water treatment plants and failing pumping stations all need to be replaced or repaired at a far more rapid rate than budgets currently allow.
“We’re reaching the end of the life cycle of some of the most critical assets we’ve got,” said Bill Stowe, CEO and general manager of Des Moines Waterworks, in an Associated Press article discussing the slow-boiling crisis.
“At stake is the continued availability of clean, cheap drinking water — a public health achievement that has fueled the nation’s growth for generations and that most Americans take for granted,” wrote AP reporter Ryan J. Foley in that story.
How bad is it? The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency believes an investment of $384 billion by 2030 will be necessary to maintain the nation’s existing drinking water systems.
The industry-backed American Water Works Association thinks the cost will be even greater when necessary growth is accounted for. The association puts the tab at closer to $1 trillion over 25 years. For the full article click here
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