The Top Water/Wastewater Infrastructure Projects In North America

CG/LA Infrastructure has released its annual ‘Strategic 100 North America’ report, a ranking of the highest-value public projects set to move forward in the next 18 months, and only nine of the 100 are from the water/wastewater sector. What gives?

Actually, with the ‘Strategic 100’ spanning 11 industry sectors, nine is a fair share — and a much better showing when you consider that spending for Water & Wastewater ($50 billion) ranks second only behind the whopping $126 billion to be spent in the Passenger Rail sector. Oil & Gas ($48.8 billion), Urban Mass Transit ($46.5 billion), and Highways & Bridges ($31.2 billion) round out the top five.

The list, according to CG/LA Infrastructure’s president, Norman F. Anderson, identifies “those projects that … promise to make significant contributions to our long-term competitiveness, opportunity creation, and job creation.” In his introduction to the report, Anderson adds that these are projects that “…will generate the highest social returns.”

With limited funds available, the key is to invest wisely — ‘strategically’ — in order to maximize impact. During six months of analysis, CG/LA whittled the list of candidates from nearly 500 projects down to 100 using its ‘Project Assessment System’. Regional infrastructure conditions were weighed alongside the potential to bring jobs, national prosperity, and a foreseeable ‘business moment’ in the next three to 18 months.

The following chart highlights the Water & Wastewater projects that made the list, representing nearly $50 billion of the more than US$376 billion total within the ‘Strategic 100’. The overall rank is also given, along with location (all within the U.S.), estimated project costs, and links for further information.

‘Strategic 100’ Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Projects

Modified from the ‘Strategic 100 North America’ report; credit: CG/LA Infrastructure Inc.

The full report, published as a precursor to the 7th North American Infrastructure Leadership Forum (Oct. 26 to 28 in Washington, D.C.), is available as a free download here.