Drinking water is a critical public service and one that most of us take for granted. We expect it to be there when we turn on the tap or flush the toilet. Not many of us think about the 1,300 miles of pipelines and the 36,000 valves that bring the water to us. They’re out of sight, out of mind. At least until there’s a problem, like a water main break that could damage roadways, cause traffic delays and put homes and businesses out of water until repairs are made.
According to the American Water Works Association (AWWA), much of our drinking water infrastructure was constructed between 80 and 100 years ago, and the cost of repairing and replacing these aging pipelines ranges between $280 to $400 billion. That means we will pay more for water, and it’s an investment worth making.
Much of the District’s water system is made out of cast iron pipes, some of which are more than 100 years old. Since its creation in 1996, DC WASA has made significant progress in stabilizing the city’s water infrastructure. But, there’s much more to be done. In its 10-year Capital Improvements Program, DC WASA plans to spend more than $600 million on water system improvements.
Out of sight, out of mind doesn’t work for infrastructure; not for the maze of pipelines, much of which were laid before most of us were born, that delivers a product that’s critical to our health, public safety, and quality of life.