ERMUSR MICS.ITEMS 11-12-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

VIEWPOINT Report Gives US Water Infrastructure a "D" The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) wastewater infrastructure is aging,deteriorating and in has given a"D"grade to the drinking water and waste- need of repair, replacement and upgrading. In tact, water infrastructure in the US. citing a continuing EPA has reported that without improvements to the problem with aging infrastructure and inadequate nation's wastewater treatment infrastructure, we face hording for repair and upgrades. the very real risk of losing the environmental gains The grade was part of the ASCE's 2003 Progress achieved over the last three decades since the passage Report For America's Infrastructure, which examined of the Clean Water Act of 1972. trends affecting 12 infrastructure categories, including The ASCE recommended reauthorization of the roads, bridges, dams and other public works. Clean Water Act at $25 billion over a five-year period According to the report,the nation's infrastructure has to help finance wastewater infrastructure improve- shown little improvement since ASCE gave the various ments. It also called on Congress to pass H.R. 1560, categories an overall D+ in 2001. the Water Quality Financing Act of 2003, or S. 170, While drinking water quality remains good, the the Clean Water Infrastructure Financing Act of 2003, infrastructure of the nation's 54,000 drinking water at the recommended funding level. systems is aging rapidly, the "For more than 15 years, experts studying our -, report's authors said. Federal nation's infrastructure have sounded a warning," said ' handing remains flat, while ASCE President Thomas Jackson. "The infrastructure j the infrastructure needs con- that supports our economy and quality of life is crum- ` -- tlnue to increase. There is an bling and we have failed to invest in the improvements -' annual shortfall of$11 billion needed to keep pace with our growing population, let • needed to replace or rehabili- alone our increasing demands. "c"` tate facilities that are nearing "With the overall grade for our infrastructure a dis- the end of their useful life and couraging D+, that means we're sliding toward failure to comply with federal water and the prospects for improvement are grim." regulations. For people working in the water industry, the near- ASCE forecasted a downward trend for our nation's failing grade may seem harsh. Despite it's problems, drinking water systems. To counter that trend, the the industry is still providing a safe,reliable service that association urged reauthorization of the Safe Drinking is taken pretty much for granted by the public. The Water Act at 525 billion over a five-year period. industry's goal is to maintain the existing infrastructure The nation's 16,000 wastewater systems also face while improving and expanding to meet the needs of a enormous needs, ASCE said. Some sewer systems are growing population and increasing federal regulation. 100 years old and many treatment facilities are past And the key to that goal is handing. their recommended life expectancy. Currently, there is Let's just hope that Congress and the White House a 512 billion annual shortfall in funding For infrastruc- are listening. ture needs; however, federal finding has remained flat for a decade. Because of this continuing shortfall,more than one third of U.S. surface waters do not meet water quality far . America s farmers, fishermen, manufacturers and �--I 2 tourism industries rely on clean water to carry out '-`�+�� Jeri yirks that contribute over 5300 billion to our econ- omy each Year However, the challenge to continue providing clean water remains, as our existing national James Laughlin, Editor