TFTT Report
Michael Deane Celebrates Infrastructure Week by Discussing Solutions to Nation’s Water Challenges
In celebration of Infrastructure Week, National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) Executive Director Michael Deane wrote two pieces, one in The Hill and the other in Huffington Post, on the urgent water infrastructure challenges America faces and how private water operators help fill the enormous infrastructure investment gap.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), thousands of miles of water and wastewater pipes in the U.S. are in need of repair or replacement. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gives our nation’s water infrastructure system a lowly “D” grade. ASCE estimates there are 240,000 water main breaks every year that result in billions of gallons of lost water each and every day.
Deane explains in The Hill how public-private partnerships are an important part of the solution to these complex and urgent challenges:
“Simply staying compliant with federal health and environmental standards within the Safe Drinking Water Act and the Clean Water Act require sustained investment, which can be a strain on some communities without the budget to make ongoing capital improvements in water and wastewater facilities. Access to capital from the private sector allows municipalities to accelerate the design, construction and operation of water treatment facilities and distribution systems.
Public-private partnerships also provide communities with a broader base of expertise and new technologies. Private water companies offer a vast national network of experienced water utility water management professionals with extensive knowledge in solving infrastructure challenges. Many also invest heavily every year in research and development to advance water service innovation. New innovations in water reuse, desalination and leak detection, to name a few, are helping solve water supply challenges across the country.”
In a Huffington Post blog, Deane explores how private water systems can partner with communities, or acquire public water systems, to ensure all Americans have access to safe and reliable drinking water and wastewater service.
“Finally, there is an immediate need to embrace the value of collaboration and cooperation between government-owned water systems and privately-owned and regulated water systems. The outdated public-versus-private paradigms need to end. State and federal governments can’t solve all the water challenges, and private, regulated water companies and professionals can be part of the solution. The emotional and ideological rationales just don’t hold water, and ignore the value of cooperation.
The nation’s water quality is better than it has ever been, but that won’t continue without immediate, sustained investment in water infrastructure. The health and safety of America is at stake, and so is the quality of life for the next generation.”
Infrastructure Week provides an important annual reminder of the systems we depend on every day of the year. While our water infrastructure may be buried out of sight, it faces serious investment needs that cannot be ignored. The various models of public-private collaboration provide proven solutions for communities and water systems in need.