The United States has an infrastructure problem. We have crumbling roads and railways, neglected public transit, and ports and airports in dire need of upgrades, not to mention the critical repairs needed for water and wastewater systems. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the nation’s drinking water system a C- on its 2021 Infrastructure Report Card. Wastewater systems scored even worse with a D+.
According to ASCE, there are 2.2 million miles of underground pipes in the U.S. that deliver safe water to millions of people; however, the system is aging and underfunded. A water main breaks an estimated every two minutes, and 6 billion gallons of treated water is lost each day — enough to fill 9,000 swimming pools. Additionally, ASCE reports the nation’s more than 16,000 wastewater treatment plants are functioning at 81% of their design capacities on average, and 15% have already reached or exceeded it. Clearly, something has to be done.