America's Crumbling Water Infrastructure

[Terry]

http://www.cnt.org/2013/11/18/the-case-for-fixing-the-leaks-release/

Every day in America, we lose nearly six billion gallons of expensive, treated water due to crumbling infrastructure. Leaky, aging pipes and outdated systems are wasting 2.1 trillion gallons annually. That’s roughly 16% of our nation’s daily water use. Or, enough to swallow several major American cities whole:
That’s also money down the drain. Water loss from failing infrastructure, faulty metering, and flat-out theft costs money, and can mean lost revenue for utilities and higher rates for consumers. Between 1996 and 2010, the cost of water services in the US rose by nearly 90%

 

[Jadnashua]

Some places in MA still have wooden logs cored out and used as water pipes...guess how well they hold water?! Pitch doesn't make the greatest gasket!

A co-worker lived in one town, their water quality was poor, and they put in a big filtration system. They knew from when it was proposed that the filters would have to be replaced at 5-year intervals at a fairly substantial cost. Well, instead of budgeting for that, they didn't and then the water started to taste bad again, and everyone was up in arms - the water department had been warning they needed money put away for it each year, but were ignored - nobody wants to be the one to raise rates, either for the water or the property taxes. Totally unrealistic, artificial, and all politically motivated.

The roads are in need of repair, the majority of bridges in the USA need major work, some areas need new roads to serve the larger population or widen the existing ones (doesn't always work!), but nobody wants to tell someone in the way that their house needs to be torn down, or for those nearby to have to live with a new superhighway right next to them. Lived in Germany for awhile...they have some nasty winters in places...almost never see a pothole because they build their roads to last, not the 30-40 year cycle in the USA, then try to fix them at the least cost when they should be totally rebuilt. There's a reason why their fuel surcharges are higher, they actually spend it to keep the infrastructure up. Everyone here just wants to get by with the minimum, then throw it away and get the newest, latest. Building something that will last centuries is just not in the plan.

Same issue with running new power lines. NH is up in arms about a proposal to bring in cheap, abundant hydro power from Canada, but nobody can agree where the line should be. At least they're trying to solve the problem.

Can't blame it all on the politicians. We had an interim election in the city earlier...had about 16% of the eligible voters come out. Nationally, the only elections that get good turnout (and that's still poor) are the presidential ones every four years. Few people look beyond the TV ads to decide who to vote for, if they even vote. We have a very poor grasp of reality, budgeting, denying all of the material goods we accumulate in lieu of long-term needs and goals.

Still, a good place to live, but I feel sorry for the next few generations when all of the stuff that was pushed to the back burner either spoils or burns up.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Terry]

My father was on the Metro Planning council in the Puget Sound area in the 60's
I notice it's not even called that now. He always said that somebody has to plan three generations ahead, but nobody does.
Again, a lot of it was politics. Nobody pats you on the back if you are planning for the grandkids future.
During his time, Washington State put a floating bridge across Hood Canal. Sewers were installed around Lake Washington, which cleaned up that lake, I-405 was carved out, linking Lynnwood at I-5 down to Renton, running through Bellevue. At that time in the 60's, it was two lanes each way, and people were complaining that it was way too much for the area. Now it's four lanes each way and it's gridlock.

If we intend to be a first world country, we need to re-think our infrastructure. It should be first class. The amount of time lost trying to move product and services around is becoming a huge waste of resources.
Where I live, they are putting up residential high rise, some forty stories. Short ones being eight stories. The Seattle area is cramming more and more people into the same small space, without regard for how they will move once it's built.

Dooh!

 

[ImOld]

Not a problem or worry, gentlemen.

It will never go to waste.

The fracking industry in American can suck all the excess out of the ground and then some.

 

[Dj2]

Utility companies have one big problem: how to pay their PENSIONS.

That's why the tell their customers that they need to raise rates to make capital investments and replace old pipes, while diverting the funds to pay fat pensions.

You want to change that? good luck.