The 'One Water' Approach

Of all of our needs, water is the single most important. It is a life essential resource – we need it every day for almost everything we do and there is no substitute. In the U.S., water services are often so reliable that many of us do not think twice about what comes out of our faucets or what it’s been through to become drinkable. Indeed, for many of us, having access to clean, dependable water is a given, not a luxury. Water is taken for granted and this has led to a real problem with serious consequences.

The challenges of infrastructure replacement and compliance with water quality requirements are increasing for utilities.

Much of our drinking water infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life and approaching the age at which it needs to be replaced. Some of these pipes –originally intended to survive 50 to 75 years – have been in service for more than 100 years. Without renewal or replacement, water pipes in the U.S. that are classified as poor, very poor or life-elapsed will increase from 10 percent to 44 percent by 2020.