It’s Time to Address Our Nation’s Aging Water Systems

David Haines, Pipeline and Water Market Manager

Once again the effects of corrosion upon an aging infrastructure have resulted in a catastrophic failure. Thankfully there was no loss of life . . . just property. On December 23, 2008, commuters in Bethesda, Maryland, were trapped in a 4-ft (1.2-m) wall of rushing water when one of the city’s 66-in (1.67-m) water mains ruptured (see The NACE Advocate article, “Maryland Legislators Call for Major Federal Investments in Water, Sewer Infrastructure”).

Consider the 155,000-plus public water systems in the United States. The average age of the water systems is 41 years, and most have a design life of 50 years. By the year 2020, 45% of all water and wastewater systems will be in poor condition and/or exceeding their designed life span.

The problem will not get better with time, so now is the time to act.

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) considers the minimum cost to replace the aging infrastructure to be $250 billion over the next 30 years. With that value in mind, the AWWA and partner agencies jointly requested that $10 billion be included in the stimulus package for water infrastructure.

The House of Representatives bill H.R. 1, American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, includes $2 billion for water projects and $6 billion for wastewater projects. An additional $1.5 billion was included for rural water and wastewater programs. The companion Senate bill, S. 1, includes $2 billion for water projects, $4 billion for wastewater projects, and an additional $1.4 billion for rural projects. The U.S. Government Accountability Office calculated that there is in excess of $10 billion in water projects alone that could be started within 120 days. The bottom line: too little, too late.

From the government’s own study, water and wastewater is the largest single sub-group contributing to the $276 billion in annual corrosion costs—claiming 36%! It is apparent that Congress is not grasping the magnitude of the problem. It is the responsibility of each of us in the water and wastewater industry to sound the alarm. Yes, even you can get involved. On the NACE International Public Affairs Web page, you can find the name of your Representative or Senators and send them an e-mail or letter. NACE is also sponsoring a Legislative Day in Washington, DC on June 16 and 17. Come meet your elected officials and express your concerns. Register online today!

It is human nature to think that one person will not really matter; however, I was told that the congressional offices consider each single phone call or letter to represent the opinion of 100 voters. So, you do count! And if not you, then who?