Municipal water and wastewater systems in the U.S. will award $3.25 billion to A/E/P and environmental consulting firms in 1999. The finding is based on a survey by Zweig White & Associates of municipal water and wastewater systems serving over 100 of the largest U.S. metropolitan areas. In contrast to payments to A/E/P and environmental consulting firms, new awards are not already earmarked for particular firms. Other findings from the report include:

  • Municipal water and wastewater systems are focusing capital improvement programs on renovation projects. Seventy-three percent of respondents are planning to renovate treatment facilities in the next five years, 47 percent are planning to construct new treatment facilities, 62 percent plan to renovate transmission facilities, and 56 percent are planning a new transmission facility.

  • The use of design-build among municipal water and wastewater systems is increasing. One-third of respondents have used design-build as a project delivery method. This is an increase from 27 percent of respondents in the 1997 report. In addition, nine percent of respondents have used design-build-operate as a project delivery method.