Government Accountability Office Reports on Need for Water Infrastructure Investment

In a report on drinking water lead compliance and other water infrastructure needs of the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, the Government Accountability Office also addressed water infrastructure needs nationwide. Estimates of water infrastructure needs in the U.S. range from $485 billions to $1.2 trillion. About three-fourths of the existing infrastructure is underground pipe (about 800,000 miles of drinking water lines and nearly as many miles of sewers).

Funding for this infrastructure is a major issue. The revenues of many utilities are not sufficient to keep up with infrastructure needs. Funding for the largest federal drinking water and wastewater infrastructure programs have be flat or declining.

The full report is available here.