February 6, 2008—A new report from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates $202.5 billion is the nationwide capital investment needed to control wastewater pollution for up to a 20- year period.
Delivered to Congress in January, the 2004 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, summarizes the results of the agency’s 14th national survey on the needs of publicly owned wastewater treatment works. The estimate includes $134.4 billion for wastewater treatment and collection systems, $54.8 billion for combined sewer overflow corrections, and $9.0 billion for stormwater management.
EPA is working with states, tribes, utilities, and other partners across the country to reduce the demand on water infrastructure through improved asset management, improved technology, water efficiency, and watershed-based decision making, and is working with Congress to enact the Administration’s Water Enterprise Bond proposal.
EPA notes that wastewater treatment utilities pay for infrastructure using revenue from rates charged to customers and may finance large projects using loans or bonds. State and federal funding programs, such as EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund program, are also available to help communities meet their wastewater pollution control needs.
The needs in this survey, conducted every four years, represent a $16.1 billion (8.6%) increase (in constant 2004 dollars) over the 2000 report. The increase in overall national needs is due to a combination of population growth, more protective water quality standards, and aging infrastructure, says EPA.
