Water Utilities Use of Asset Management Practices

Recent catastrophic breaks in water mains and sewer discharges during storms are indicators of the nations old and deteriorating water and wastewater infrastructure. EPA estimates that small water utilities -- those serving fewer than 10,000 people--may need about $143 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure repairs and replacement over 20 years. EPA and USDA provide the three largest sources of federal funding for water infrastructure. In a March 2004 report, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that water utilities may benefit from implementing asset management -- a tool used across a variety of sectors to manage physical assets, such as roads and buildings. This book examines what is known about the use of asset management among the nations water utilities -- particularly small water utilities -- including benefits and challenges and steps EPA and USDA are taking to help small water utilities implement asset management.