Price Tag For Old Water Systems Hits $1 Trillion

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The upgrade of the aging American water systems, which is in part due to climate-driven floods, will cost $1 trillion over the next two decades, according to new studies. The two pieces of research are from the Clean Watersheds Needs Survey (CWNS) and Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment.

Route Fifty reports, “The two surveys together—one focused on wastewater and stormwater and the other on drinking water systems—indicate a total infrastructure funding deficit greater than $1.2 trillion over the next two decades.”

Waste Water

The studies looked primarily at two problems which are water from storms, water which contains waste, The question is whether these can be addressed by public or private funds.

A portion of the issue is due to huge floods, often caused by storms. These have become more frequent due to the rise in powerful hurricanes and large weather systems, many of which have affected the Midwest. In addition to the water systems problem, these disasters have also triggered higher commercial and residential real estate insurance.

Old Systems

Route Fifty adds, “Importantly, the watershed needs report also says that climate change will take a toll on aging infrastructure. Short-term risks—such as hurricanes, floods, tornados, and wildfires—and longer-term ones—such as rising temperatures and droughts, increasing precipitation, and sea-level rise—can cause broken pipes, overwhelmed stormwater systems, loss of power, and poor water quality, all of which prevent water systems from operating effectively and can have devastating effects on communities.” Dams are part of the system.

One barrier to public funding is higher taxes. The primary barrier to private capital is a path to make profits on endeavors meant to solve the problems.