TFTT Report

“The costs to rebuild will be staggering. The costs of inaction are already piling up.”

(Ryan Foley, “Drinking water systems imperiled by failing infrastructure,” Associated Press, 9/26/15)

A recent Associated Press article highlights an issue communities throughout the country are facing: aging water infrastructure. In the article, Will Williams, a water infrastructure expert, notes that “[b]uried infrastructure is out of sight, out of mind. We take it for granted.” Even as systems are crumbling, when Americans turn on their faucet, they still expect to get clean and safe water.

Many of our nation’s water systems were built during World War II or even earlier and, decades later, they are in need of significant repairs and replacement. Every year, an estimated 240,000 water mains break in the United States, resulting in a loss of 7 billion gallons of water each day. To maintain the existing water systems, the American Water Works Association projects it will cost $1 trillion over 25 years to upgrade our nation’s drinking water infrastructure.

“Some pipes date back to the 1800s. As they get older, they fail in different ways. Some split and rupture, with an estimated 700 main breaks occurring around the U.S. every day. The most devastating failures damage roadways, close businesses and shut off service for hours or days. If pipes are particularly bad, they can contaminate water.” (Associated Press, 9/26/15)

Greg DiLoreto, past president of the American Society of Civil Engineers, notes that “Americans have to understand: If they want this system, they are going to have to be willing to finance it, to pay for it.”

And that’s where private water comes in. Today, private water companies in the U.S. serve more than 73 million people and maintain over 100,000 miles of water pipes. Local governments across the country face urgent and significant water infrastructure needs, and public capital alone cannot cover the associated costs – especially for municipalities with other competing budget priorities or strained fiscal environments.

There is widespread recognition that private finance and public-private partnerships are crucial to meeting infrastructure challenges. The U.S. Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, the Brookings Institute, the Pacific Institute, dozens of academics from across the country, and even the President of the United States agree that the private water industry provides proven options for municipalities facing urgent water infrastructure needs.

Read the full article here: http://bit.ly/1JPYzXW