The commitment of Congress and the Obama administration to address the economical downturn through the Recovery Act Funds has provided certain relief to restore, improve and resuscitate our deteriorated water/wastewater infrastructure however unwillingness to largely invest in our aging national infrastructure is still a widespread notion.
Most of the U.S. water infrastructure has been in place since World War II. Some water pipes stretch back 80 to 100 years in cities like D.C, Los Angeles, and Chicago. New York and Boston still have some of the original wooden pipes laid in the ground nearly 200 years ago.
According to the American Water Works Association (AWWA), U.S. water leaks total about six billion gallons per day, enough to fill 200,000 backyard swimming pools. Sewage overflow and polluted stormwater runoff led to 20,000 closures and advisories at U.S. beaches.
By the time you’ve finished reading this article, another three water pipes will have burst somewhere in the USA. Breaking just over one per minute, it equates to about 540,000 bursts per year across America’s 1.8 million miles of water distribution lines.
Water/wastewater infrastructure plays a vital role in maintaining our nation’s economic, environmental, and public health. Upgrade of existing infrastructure is a key factor to America economic success.
Overcoming procrastination
For decades, Hawaii neglected its critical public Infrastructure. More than 120 million gallons a day of raw sewage was passing through sewers pipeline bursting at the seams and now Hawaii estimates that needs more than $2.6 billion for water, the environment, and repairs to aging sewer systems only. Total cost to fix Hawaiian deteriorated infrastructure is estimated to $14 billions (July 2010).
Hawaii’s infrastructure problems are hardly unique. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the nation a “D” in 2009, representing a collective $2.2 trillion shortfall in infrastructure spending just over the next five years.
Public involvement and more federal funds are needed to help repair water and sewer systems to communities that can not afford to maintain and upgrade them on their own, especially in tight economic times.
Procrastination shall be overcame, creation and implementation of innovative alternatives processes, materials, and technologies that maximize the efficiency of water use, reuse, and conservation will boost private sector productivity and enhance American competitiveness.
Public Involvement at Local Level
For communities to overcome the myth of “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” residents shall have knowledge and easy reliable information access to local infrastructure conditions that affect them directly such as broken or structurally defected pipelines that might cause overflow or pipe bursting in their neighborhoods.
Understanding the consequences that deterioration of these facilities may inflict in their economical, social, and health life may increase interest of Main Stream to participate in such issues.
Water Local Agencies should continue taking the lead by constantly providing written and visual information to all affected parties within their jurisdictional boundaries. i.e. Digital and mailed news letters, videos (youtube) showing CCTVs footing of the deteriorated infrastructure, population and demands for services, facilities improvements, safe/clean/reliable water sources, and need of community involvement.
Emphasis shall be put into visual education. Same as those car accident commercials showing the “brutal” impact that irresponsible driving causes (lost of life and family anguish) without holding back images that might be “distressful” to certain viewers but accentuates the reality of the situation, statistically, has proven to improve consciousness of the problem.
We can survive without electricity or streets but we can’t without clean, fresh water…”It is the most precious commodity on Earth”.
Most of the U.S. water infrastructure has been in place since World War II. Some water pipes stretch back 80 to 100 years in cities like D.C, Los Angeles, and Chicago. New York and Boston still have some of the original wooden pipes laid in the ground nearly 200 years ago.
According to the American Water Works Association (AWWA), U.S. water leaks total about six billion gallons per day, enough to fill 200,000 backyard swimming pools. Sewage overflow and polluted stormwater runoff led to 20,000 closures and advisories at U.S. beaches.
By the time you’ve finished reading this article, another three water pipes will have burst somewhere in the USA. Breaking just over one per minute, it equates to about 540,000 bursts per year across America’s 1.8 million miles of water distribution lines.
Water/wastewater infrastructure plays a vital role in maintaining our nation’s economic, environmental, and public health. Upgrade of existing infrastructure is a key factor to America economic success.
Overcoming procrastination
For decades, Hawaii neglected its critical public Infrastructure. More than 120 million gallons a day of raw sewage was passing through sewers pipeline bursting at the seams and now Hawaii estimates that needs more than $2.6 billion for water, the environment, and repairs to aging sewer systems only. Total cost to fix Hawaiian deteriorated infrastructure is estimated to $14 billions (July 2010).
Hawaii’s infrastructure problems are hardly unique. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the nation a “D” in 2009, representing a collective $2.2 trillion shortfall in infrastructure spending just over the next five years.
Public involvement and more federal funds are needed to help repair water and sewer systems to communities that can not afford to maintain and upgrade them on their own, especially in tight economic times.
Procrastination shall be overcame, creation and implementation of innovative alternatives processes, materials, and technologies that maximize the efficiency of water use, reuse, and conservation will boost private sector productivity and enhance American competitiveness.
Public Involvement at Local Level
For communities to overcome the myth of “Out of Sight, Out of Mind” residents shall have knowledge and easy reliable information access to local infrastructure conditions that affect them directly such as broken or structurally defected pipelines that might cause overflow or pipe bursting in their neighborhoods.
Understanding the consequences that deterioration of these facilities may inflict in their economical, social, and health life may increase interest of Main Stream to participate in such issues.
Water Local Agencies should continue taking the lead by constantly providing written and visual information to all affected parties within their jurisdictional boundaries. i.e. Digital and mailed news letters, videos (youtube) showing CCTVs footing of the deteriorated infrastructure, population and demands for services, facilities improvements, safe/clean/reliable water sources, and need of community involvement.
Emphasis shall be put into visual education. Same as those car accident commercials showing the “brutal” impact that irresponsible driving causes (lost of life and family anguish) without holding back images that might be “distressful” to certain viewers but accentuates the reality of the situation, statistically, has proven to improve consciousness of the problem.
We can survive without electricity or streets but we can’t without clean, fresh water…”It is the most precious commodity on Earth”.
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