USEPA's infrastructure needs survey

A recently completed survey of drinking water infrastructure needs, which was conducted by the U.S. EPA, showed that a 138.4 billion U.S. dollar investment in infrastructure would be needed in the U.S.A. in the next 20 years. More than 76.8 billion U.S. dollars of this total was needed now for infrastructure improvements to protect public health, and of which 12.1 billion U.S. dollars related to improvements required to meet standards set by the Safe Drinking Water Act. Distribution and transmission systems upgrades would cost 77.2 billion U.S. dollars. Treatment facility improvements required 36.2 billion U.S. dollars to control contaminants that cause both chronic and acute health effects and secondary contaminants. To improve storage facilities 12.1 billion U.S. dollars would be needed and 11 billion U.S. dollars to rehabilitate or develop water sources and to store untreated water. Water system requirements according to system size and the needs of American Indian and Alaska Native water systems are discussed. The needs of households not connected to community water systems are assessed.