You are here:
Rehabilitation, Replacement and Redesign of the Nation's Water and Wastewater Infrastructure as a Valuable Adaptation Opportunity
Citation:
MURRAY, D. J. Rehabilitation, Replacement and Redesign of the Nation's Water and Wastewater Infrastructure as a Valuable Adaptation Opportunity. Presented at First National Workshop on Water Infrastructure Sustainability and Adaptation to Climate Change, Washington, DC, January 06 - 07, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public
Description:
In support of the Agency's Sustainable Water Infrastructure Initiative, EPA's Office of Research and Develpment initiated the Aging Water Infrastructure Research Program in 2007. The program, with its core focus on the support of strategic asset management, is designed to facilitate more cost-effective operation, maintenance, repair and replacement of aging and failing drinking water and wastewater systems, and the development and application of advanced designs and management approaches for drinking water and wastewater systems. Strategic asset management is a tool that can be used by water and wastewater utilities to adapt to the effects of global change. Through effective condition assessment of infrastructure systems and optimal investments in system rehabilitation, replacement and redesign, especially focused on the long-term system demands and threats, asset management can support successful adaptation. While strategic asset management is a tool for effective infrastructure adaptation, technical abd institutional challenges must be overcome to realize its potential. System modifications and resultant performance improvements will be measured over decades, making adaptation seem more like evolution.