Region 8
Region 8 Sustainable Water Infrastructure
EPA Headquarters Information
Drinking Water Programs
External Links
EPA Region 8 hosted a workshop on Energy Management for Water and Wastewater Utilities in Denver on October 15, 2009. To view the workshop slides, click here.
Federal resources are shrinking. Demands on our water systems are growing at unprecedented rates. Not surprisingly, water utilities are facing significant challenges in keeping pace with infrastructure needs over the next 20 years. Also,
- Wastewater and drinking water systems are aging,
- The U.S. population is increasing and shifting geographically,
- Current treatment may not be sufficient to address emerging issues and potentially stronger regulatory requirements,
- Investment in research and development has declined.
Why is Sustainable Water Infrastructure important?
Much of our nation's water infrastructure was constructed in the period following World War II and will be reaching the end of its useful life in the next 20-40 years. Utilities and their local communities are increasingly required to provide the primary sources of funding (both capital and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs) to meet those needs; however, many utilities and communities are finding themselves in a position where adequate funds to meet water infrastructure needs are not available to keep up with necessary capital and O&M investments.
What is Sustainable Water Infrastructure?
Sustainable Water Infrastructure is an initiative launched by EPA, working with its many partners, to fundamentally change the way the nation views and manages its water infrastructure. It revolves around four priority areas: