Chronic Underinvestment In America's Water Infrastructure Puts The Economy At Risk

• New economic study finds that cost of water and wastewater failures will be seven times higher in 20 years for American households
• Closing the investment gap would create 800,000 new jobs and household disposable income would rise by more than $2,000 per household

The United States is underinvesting in its drinking water and wastewater systems—putting American households and the economy at risk, according to a new report released today by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Value of Water Campaign. The report, “The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure: How a Failure to Act Would Affect the U.S. Economy Recovery", finds that as water infrastructure deteriorates and service disruptions increase, annual costs to American households due to water and wastewater failures will be seven times higher in 20 years than they are today — from $2B in 2019 to $14B by 2039.

America’s water infrastructure is aging, with many drinking water systems and wastewater treatment facilities nearing the end of their respective design lives (75-100 years), causing contamination and economic disruptions to communities. Between 2012 and 2018, the rate of water main breaks in the US rose by 27 percent to roughly 300,000 breaks per year — equivalent to a break more than every two minutes. The US lost an estimated $21.7M of treated water in 2019 due to leaks, which is projected to reach $48M by 2039 with current investment trends. In addition to the impact to households, American businesses most reliant on water will spend $250B in 2039 on water service disruptions.

“As a nation, we have put off crucial investment our vital water resources for too long and we’re seeing the results play out now,” said ASCE President K.N. Gunalan “Guna”, Ph.D., P.E. “The 2019 investment gap of $81B outlined in this report has held back businesses, hurt American pocketbooks and threatened public safety. Investing in water infrastructure provides a path to economic recovery that we desperately need as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our leaders must act now to ensure our systems do not continue to deteriorate and bare greater costs in years to come.”

“Investing in our water infrastructure as a nation allowed communities to flourish. It dramatically improved public health and set our economy up for success. At a time when so much is at stake, we cannot continue to ignore the urgency of the situation. Communities can not shoulder the burden of capital improvements and maintaining aging water systems all by themselves. We have to come together as a nation and prioritize investing in our water infrastructure once again,” said Radhika Fox, CEO of the US Water Alliance, which coordinates the Value of Water Campaign.

In 2019, water service disruptions resulted in $51B economic loss for 11 water-reliant industries such as education, health services, retail, construction, manufacturing, and more. With the current trajectory, service disruptions will cost water-reliant businesses an estimated $116B by 2029 and will soar to $264B by 2039. With damage and flooding from increasing storms, in addition to water shutoffs and deteriorating infrastructure, production costs for businesses and prices for consumers are expected to climb. The report finds that more than $625B in business sales (gross output) would be lost over the next 10 years. By 2039, that number will near $3.9T. Failing to invest would cause reductions in wages and disposable income; by 2039, 636,000 jobs would be lost annually.

The report also notes that the future does not have to look this bleak. If investment is increased to address these shortfalls now, the US GDP would grow by $4.5T in 20 years. This investment would create 800,000 new jobs and household disposable income would rise by more than $2,000 per household.

A research team comprised of EBP, Downstream Strategies and the Interindustry Forecasting Project at the University of Maryland (INFORUM) worked with ASCE and the Value of Water Campaign to develop this analysis. The next report in the Failure to Act series, The Economic Impact of Current Investment Trends in Electricity Infrastructure: How a Failure to Act Would Affect the U.S. Economy Recovery, will be released on September 1, 2020.

Click here for more information on ASCE’s Failure to Act series, and click here to read the full report.

About The American Society Of Civil Engineers
Founded in 1852, the American Society of Civil Engineers represents more than 150,000 civil engineers worldwide and is America's oldest national engineering society. ASCE works to raise awareness of the need to maintain and modernize the nation’s infrastructure using sustainable and resilient practices, advocates for increasing and optimizing investment in infrastructure, and improve engineering knowledge and competency. For more information, visit www.asce.org or www.infrastructurereportcard.org.

About The Value Of Water Campaign
The Value of Water Campaign educates and inspires the nation about how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of investment. Spearheaded by top leaders in the water industry, and coordinated by the US Water Alliance, the Value of Water Campaign is building public and political will for investment in America’s water and wastewater infrastructure through best­in­class communications tools, high­impact events, media activities, and robust research and publications. For more information, visit www.valueofwater.org.