From the Roman aqueduct to the Brita filter, humans have made leaps and bounds in the ways we consume water.
Today, few Americans even think about their access to clean water, and only pay attention when it fails. The way we get water is no doubt a complex process. Water infrastructure consists of treatment plants, pipes, and storage facilities like reservoirs. Most are managed at the state or local level, and bring water to almost 90% of the US population.
Water infrastructure lets us have access to this natural resource at the turn of a tap, but this ease can obscure the problems that lie beneath the surface.
Despite its importance, water infrastructure in the US has been severely underfunded over the past half century. In fact, water and wastewater systems require an additional $81 billion investment, a 172% increase from current spending, to get water systems working at the level they should. This lack of funding is not just inconvenient: many of these systems were built in the mid 20th century and are now reaching the end of their lifetimes.
Water system failures are becoming more frequent. Water main breaks, or when old water pipes crack and burst, are increasing in frequency and wasting 15% of all treated water in the US, amounting to $7.6 billion lost every year.
Aftermath of a water main break, via SUEZ
These failures are not just a matter of cost; social and environmental well-being also hinges on the health of water infrastructure. More than 2 million Americans still do not have access to clean running water, and nearly a quarter of the population get their water from untreated or contaminated sources. Additionally, Black, Latinx, Indigenous and low-income communities disproportionately represent affected communities in both urban and rural environments across the country. Racism and systemic injustice in the United States continue to shape access to even the most basic necessities like water.
Protestors in Newark, New Jersey advocating for water rights, photo by Karla Ann Cote via the Real News Network
Maintenance of existing systems alone will not be enough to address these inequities. Not only will the general issue of water infrastructure need to be addressed and prioritized in terms of policy, funding, and general awareness; how money and resources are distributed is a key issue to take into consideration to ensure equitable improvements. Access to clean water is a human right.
Because water infrastructure is reaching the end of its lifetime, there are a lot of opportunities to enact systemic reforms and changes in how it works. Problems surrounding water infrastructure are problems caused by people, but this means that people can fix them, but we have to be proactive. The problems that will come with large-scale failures are an issue of when, not if. In the coming age of water infrastructure renewal, we need to center the needs of the people the infrastructure is supposed to serve, and be both equitable and sustainable for years to come.
How are investors, elected officials, and engineers working to create and maintain equitable infrastructure? How are they held accountable to the communities they serve? How can we increase transparency and visibility in these processes, and engage the public in shaping these structures?