Busted Pipes: D.C. Demonstrates The Rule, Not The Exception

…plus, 5 tips for utility managers dealing with aging pipeline infrastructure

By Eva Rippeteau, Fitch Ratings

Commuters in Washington D.C. woke up recently to an abundance of water. While this hardly seems problematic to those in parts of the world that grapple with drought, contamination, and other water safety issues, water is only beneficial when it arrives to the right place, at the right time, and safe for consumption. This time of year, harsh winter weather conditions wreak havoc on critical municipal infrastructure, as evidenced by the recent, major water main break in downtown D.C., which temporarily halted three metro lines and closed several blocks due to flooding.

A quick Google search will tell you this is not the first time that a major U.S. city has been disrupted by failed water infrastructure. And with portions of our country’s water infrastructure approaching 100 years old, it certainly will not be the last, particularly in older cities in the northeastern part of the country.

Above-ground structures like roads and bridges crack and develop potholes as precipitation freezes and thaws, or as snow removal breaks down pavement and scrapes away at road surfaces.  Underground structures like water mains, sewer pipes, mass-transit tunnels, electrical and gas lines, and telecommunication piping are also susceptible to damage and can leave communities at a loss for basic public services if they fail.

The fact is that local governments and their utilities face an ongoing risk of disrupted water service with each winter that passes. And as D.C.’s recent troubles show, even the best-prepared utilities are vulnerable.

The importance of maintaining existing infrastructure is imperative, particularly the underground assets that ensure the day-to-day delivery of safe, potable drinking water and removal of sewage to treatment plants. Often the infrastructure that is out of sight is also out of mind; however, few communities that have experienced a broken water or sewer main can forget the ordeal of suddenly losing water, managing a sewage-filled basement, or having flooded streets, houses, or businesses.

Many utilities already strain to balance financial responsibilities with meeting capital needs and regulatory requirements. Large expenses for unanticipated emergency situations don’t make it any easier to meet these goals and mandates.

Yet despite the necessity of reliable water service, our current investment in infrastructure on a national scale remains a drop in the bucket relative to what’s needed in order to be proactive and preventative. It is estimated that across the country less than 1 percent of water mains are replaced annually, contributing to a backlog of infrastructure repairs. With one decade’s worth of water main repairs projected to cost more than $1 trillion, playing the game of catch-up is hugely expensive. The financial outlays of increased manpower and emergency maintenance typically get tacked on to already-stressed city budgets. This means that states and their taxpayers are left on the hook for contingency funds when water infrastructure breaks down.

But the picture is not all bleak. Despite the national numbers, many utilities do invest substantially in ongoing maintenance and take proactive measures to stay ahead of the infrastructural failure curve. While these efforts won’t fix our infrastructure troubles overnight, skilled and proactive utility management can help make the difference.  

The best-prepared managers have five things in common. The first is that they know their system inside and out, and implement ongoing asset management programs. It’s one thing to have significantly aged pipes carrying a city’s water; it’s a different story if the utility doesn’t know these pipes exist and might pose a risk. The second is setting aside contingency funds so that necessary emergency repairs don’t drain the budget. The third is keeping an eye on pending regulatory changes because advanced planning can make all the difference when environmental standards change.

The fourth is keeping elected officials informed. Water utilities have a unique set of needs and challenges to ensure that clean water flows freely for all customers; creating and implementing sound policies and programs that transcend political terms is critical. Lastly, utility management works best when it’s transparent. Communicating openly and frequently with customers is essential to keeping the community on board so utilities have the leeway to make improvements that make everyone’s water service more reliable.

There’s no doubt that it’s a delicate balance, especially when raising water rates annually is often the first step toward a sustainable solution. In the meantime, resource-intensive capital improvement plans typical of larger, older, and more urban utility systems can bridge the gap between near-term needs and long-term goals.

With all of our largest cities struggling to swim upstream of an issue that has nearly a century of momentum behind it, without public support — and the types of dynamic, forward-looking utility managers necessary to tackle such large challenges — the state of our water infrastructure is unlikely to change course.