Water Infrastructure in the U.S.
Our nation’s drinking water infrastructure is in desperate need of attention. This is not breaking news. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave our underground water system a C- and their economic study found that the annual drinking water and wastewater investment gap will eventually grow to $434 billion by 2029.
Water Advisory | Water Infrastructure Insights
Statement: Water and Health Advisory Council on the 2021 Infrastructure Bill
The Water and Health Advisory Council applauds the passing of President Biden’s Infrastructure Bill which includes $55 billion to expand access to clean drinking water in America. While there are several challenges impacting our nation’s water systems, we are hopeful this spending plan will take a science-based approach to identify and address the issues that present the greatest risks to water quality and public health in the United States.
Staying Focused on the Risks That Matter
Attention and money focused on the next thing is attention and money taken away from the thing that is most impactful—the thing that best protects public health for the greatest number of people—investment in aging water infrastructure.
Providing Clean, Safe and Affordable Drinking Water for all Americans
New contaminants’ health risks must be substantiated if they are to take resources away from long-standing contaminant risks. Replacing aging infrastructure isn’t glamorous and doesn’t have the allure of addressing a contaminant with a pseudonym in air quotes, but it is critical to protecting drinking water and public health in the long term.
Water Infrastructure Resources
Our country has achieved broad successes in the delivery of safe, clean water in support of public health. Here are some resources from trusted organizations that can be used to support science-based decision making regarding safe, reliable drinking water for all.
The Water Research Foundation is the world’s leading water research and innovation organization.
The Environmental Protection Agency is an independent executive agency of the U.S. federal government tasked with environmental protection matters.
The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) is the professional Association serving state drinking water programs.
Water & Health Advisory Council Statement on Water Infrastructure
Our nation’s drinking water infrastructure is in desperate need of attention. This is not breaking news. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave our underground water system a C- and their economic study found that the annual drinking water and wastewater investment gap will eventually grow to $434 billion by 2029.
Follow the Risk
Our nation’s drinking water infrastructure requires a massive investment, and the list of drinking water infrastructure needs is extensive. With limited government resources, regulators at every level are pressed to make difficult decisions about drinking water investments and upgrades that impact our public health. This is not an easy task. But we must prioritize risks and tackle the issues that impact the most amount of people first.
Prioritize Underserved Communities
The reality is health risks from drinking water are high for low-income and rural communities. These communities are historically and unjustly underserved and under-resourced. Today, many communities lack the necessary resources to deal with the water infrastructure and contaminant issues that plague them. In some cases, they lack water infrastructure completely. These high-risk communities that lack adequately functioning community water systems need to be at the top of our nation’s priority list.
Public Health Benefit
Providing safe, clean, reliable drinking water is essential to public health protection, and allocating funds to the infrastructure needs of underserved communities is vital to achieving water equity throughout our county. Replacing aging infrastructure is the most critical to protecting drinking water and public health in the long term.
Sincerely,
Water & Health Advisory Council
Rob Renner, Council Chair, Former Chief Executive Officer at Water Research Foundation
Chad Seidel, Ph.D., President, Corona Environmental Consulting
Joseph Cotruvo, Ph.D., BCES President, Joseph Cotruvo & Associates
Joyce Dinglasan-Panlilio, Ph.D., Division Chair/Associate Professor in Environmental Chemistry at University of Washington-Tacoma
Kathryn Sorensen, Director of Research at the Kyl Center for Water Policy, Arizona State University