13.2: Duration and Extent of Water Infrastructure

Last updated
Save as PDF

Page ID: 21188

Donald Coffelt and Chris Hendrickson
Carnegie Mellon University via Donald Coffelt and Chris Hendrickson

$ \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } $ $ \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} $$\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$ $ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$ $ \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}$ $ \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$ $ \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$ $ \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$ $ \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$ $ \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$ $ \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}$ $ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$ $\newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}$ $ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$ $ \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}$ $ \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}$ $ \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}$ $ \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}$ $ \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}$ $ \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}$ $ \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}$ $ \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}$$\newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}$

Statistics and studies of water infrastructure typically make major distinctions among water supply, wastewater treatment, and other water infrastructure. We have combined all three in this module because particular infrastructure components may serve multiple purposes. For example, a particular dam may contribute to water storage, hydroelectric power generation, flood control, and recreational opportunities. Moreover, different water infrastructure elements all belong within the common general water cycle. For example, the output of a wastewater treatment plant will often be the input for a water supply system downstream. As recycling and reuse become more critical management strategies, an integrated strategy for water supply, wastewater treatment, and other uses becomes more important.

Unfortunately, summary statistics on the physical extent of the water infrastructure system are difficult to obtain. After all, the infrastructure has numerous owners and purposes. Some indication of magnitude is indicated in Table 13.1, showing the revenues and numbers of establishments for water supply, irrigation and sewage treatment in 2002 obtained from the US Economic Census. Figure 13.3 shows state and local spending alone on water and wastewater operations to be roughly $ 20B each in 2001 dollars.

Table 13.2.1 - Summary Statistics for the Water, Sewage and Other Systems Sector from the 2002

2002 NAICS code	Kind of Business	Establishment (number)	Revenue ($1,000)
2213	Water, sewage, and other systems..............................................................................	5 790	7 593 747
22131	Water supply and irrigation systems............................................................................	4 830	5 860 181
221310	Water supply and irrigation systems.........................................................................	4 830	5 860 181
22132	Sewage treatment facilities.........................................................................................	866	1 051 028
221320	Sewage treatment facilities......................................................................................	866	1 051 028
22133	Stream and air-conditioning supply..............................................................................	84	682 538
221330	Stream and air-conditioning supply.........................................................................	84	682 538

Source: US Census, 2004, ‘2002 Economic Census’, Public Domain, www.census.gov/prod/ec02/ec0222i02.pdf

Figure $\PageIndex{1}$: State and Local Spending on Water and Wastewater Operations. Source: US EPA, 2002, ‘Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis, 901R0200, Public Domain, https://nepis.epa.gov

A typical water supply plant involves several process operations to filter and disinfect ‘raw’ water (Figure 13.2.2). Wastewater treatment has more variations, depending upon the design level of treatment (Figure 13.2.3).

Figure $\PageIndex{2}$: Typical Processes in a Drinking Water Plant. Source: Congressional Budget Office, 2002, Public Domain, www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=398...e=0&sequence=2

Figure $\PageIndex{3}$: Typical Processes in a Waste Water Treatment Plant. Source: Congressional Budget Office, 2002, Public Domain, www.cbo.gov/doc.cfm?index=398...e=0&sequence=2, Based on Water Environment Federation, Clean Water for Today: What Is Wastewater Treatment? (Alexandria, Va.: WEF, November 1999).

Water infrastructure can be very long-lived, especially buried pipes, earthen structures and canals. Table 13.2.2 shows some estimated lives of water infrastructure components.

Table 13.2 - Estimated Useful Lives of Water Infrastructure Components

Source: US EPA, 2002, “Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis”, Public Domain, 901R0200, https://nepis.epa.gov