Aging water infrastructure in the United States poses serious public health risks. Over half of water main breaks between 2001-2002 were found to be associated with waterborne disease outbreaks. Many water pipes in the U.S. are over 100 years old and approaching the ends of their useful lives. This increases the risks of water contamination from leaks and breaks. Case studies show the extensive costs and challenges cities like Los Angeles face in repairing and replacing their aging systems to protect public health and water resources. Strategies proposed to address this national problem include increased investment in assessing infrastructure conditions, strengthening research on rehabilitation methods, and reforming regulatory programs and funding at state and federal levels.

1. Water Pollution Control
Planning: Issues with Aging
Infrastructure
December 7, 2015
Tabitha Proffitt, Jacqueline Tkac, and David Reck
Pollution Control Planning

2. Overview:
● Introduction
● Understanding the Problem
● Public Health Issues
● Case Studies
● Strategies for Improvement

3. Introduction
The importance of safe drinking
water to the nation’s public health
and economic welfare is undisputed.
About 54,000 community drinking
water systems provide drinking water
to more than 250 million Americans.
(AWWA, 2011)

4. The Problem
Causes
Aging water infrastructure is a public
health problem
● Drinking water infrastructure
is coming to the end of its
useful life with components in
some areas being over 100
years old
● Service disruption
● Loss of revenue due to water
loss
● Regulatory compliance
● Damage to property
Effects
Increase in the number of water main
breaks and repairs in distribution
systems, which has been identified as a
trend relevant to the deterioration of
water quality.
● Potential relationship between
waterborne disease outbreaks
and main breaks
● Affordability concern for
infrastructure repairs
Strategies
Detailed assessments of current
infrastructure quality
Strengthening research and
development
Reform state programs and funding
Increase Federal Assistance in funding
repairs and research

5. Understanding the Causes of
Aging Infrastructure:
An issue of Public Health

6. In the United
States and around
the Globe:
Issues caused by aging
infrastructure:
● Increase in number of water
main breaks and repairs in
distribution systems
● Relationship between
waterborne disease outbreaks
and main breaks

7. In the United States
○ In the U.S., the total length of water distribution pipes is estimated to be 980,000
miles and composed of both old and new materials (Van Abel, 2014).
○ These pipes range from cast iron pipes installed in the late 19th century to ductile
iron pipes and plastic pipes installed in the 1970s to present. Due to the lifespans
of these materials it is anticipated that most water distribution systems will reach
the end of their lifetimes within the next 30 years (Van Abel, 2014).
○ We lose 6 billion gallons a day from faulty pipes
■ The American Water Works Association estimates that 36 states can face
serious water shortages in as little as 5 years.

8. 26%
of the distribution pipes in the United States are unlined and in poor condition.

9. Drinking Water Contaminants
Lead
● can enter drinking water from corrosive pipes and plumbing fixtures
● can cause brain damage in infants and children
Other Contaminants:
● Pathogens
● Trihalomethanes and Haloacetic acids
● Arsenic
● Radon
● Perchlorate
● Other carcinogens and toxic chemicals

10. Waterborne Health Impacts
From 1991-1992, 207 waterborne disease outbreaks that
caused 433,946 illnesses were reported (Selvakumar, 2012).
Due to underreporting, this number is
probably higher.

11. Water Distribution System Deficiencies
Waterborne disease outbreaks for all water systems due to distribution deficiencies
ranged from less than 20% from 1971 to 1990 to 25% from 1991 to 2000. This number
jumped to over 50% from 2001 to 2002, and was around 12% from 2009-2010
(Selvakumar, 2012).

12. Aging Infrastructure:
Costs

13. The Replacement Era
AWWA, 2008.

14. Case Study:
California
Los Angeles
The Problem: Aging Infrastructure

15. Statistics
● Average Age of L.A.’s Water Pipes: 58 years old
● ⅕ of the city’s water pipes were installed before 1931
● 5% have reached or passed their expected useful life
● 8% are approaching the end of their usefulness
● Since 2006 work crews have responded to about 13,000 leaks which is about 4 a day across the
city
● Since 2010 the city has averaged nearly 1,200 leaks in a year

16. Area With the Most Leaks
(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

17. Areas With
Unusually
High Number
of Leaks
(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

18. Venice
(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

19. Key Factors
That Contribute to Leaky Pipes
● Pipe Age
● Soil Quality
● Water Pressure
● Leak History

20. Grading System

21. History of L.A.’s Water Pipes
(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

22. Pipe Material
(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

23. Most Recent Break
● Two water lines ruptured
● One line was > then 90 years old
○ Grade C
● Second line was > 80 Years old
○ Grade D
● Sent about 20 million gallons of water
spewing into area
● Millions of dollars in property damage
(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

24. Replace Pipes Graded D & F by
2025
$1.3 Billion Dollar Plan to replace 435 miles of deteriorating pipe in next 10 years

25. Planning and Policy Implications
● Plan would fix current problems but not future
● Rate increase would require public meetings and
certain approval
○ public officials
○ citizens
● Have to consider quality of life of residents
● Plan could be stalled or impeded by:
○ consistent regulation changes,
○ water price fluctuations
○ evolving drought
● Consider adverse effects from new pipe
materials
(Poston, B., & Stevens, M. 2015)

26. “This is not just an L.A. Problem … Because pipes are
out of sight out of mind, no one has really thought about
how we’re going to pay for this.”
- Colin Chung, an asset management consultant

27. Scope of Problem
● 6,730 miles of water pipes in the L.A. Department of Water and Power
water main network
● Wasting water in middle of harsh droughts
● High cost of replacing aging pipes
● Leaks often hard to locate
● Issue of aging pipe materials and contamination to drinking water
● Feasibility of catching up

28. Proposed Strategies
Comprehensive Local
Strategy:
● Assessing the condition of the drinking water system infrastructure
● Emphasis on research and development
● Educating the public to increase awareness
State Reform:
● States need to reform their current programs to make them for
effective
● Work alongside localities and grant funding where is needed
Federal Assistance:
● Increase federal funding for projects to replace, rehabilitate, or repair
old and damaged drinking water infrastructures
● Encourage research and increase funding for programs on
infrastructure rehabilitation and research on the surrounding issues
Regulations:
● Stricter regulatory methods on keeping up with assessments of
drinking water system infrastructures
● Harsher punishments for companies who allow infrastructure that
may cause waterborne illnesses to still be in use

29. Works Cited
Major water main break floods parts of UCLA area. (2014, July 30). Retrieved December 4, 2015, from
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/major-water-main-break-floods-parts-of-ucla-area/
Mamo, Thewodros G., and TG Mamo. Aqua (London): Risk-Based Approach to Manage Aging Urban Water Main Infrastructure. 64 Vol.
International Water Supply Association, 2015. Web. 19 Nov. 2015.
Poston, B., Stevens, M., & Reyes, E. (2014, November 6). L.A identifies riskiest pipes in aging water system. Retrieved November 30, 2015,
from http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-water-main-breaks-20141107-story.html
Poston, B., & Stevens, M. (2015, February 16). L.A.'s aging water pipes; a $1-billion dilemma. Retrieved November 30, 2015, from
http://graphics.latimes.com/la-aging-water-infrastructure/
Selvakumar, Ariamalar, and Anthony N. Tafuri. "Rehabilitation of Aging Water Infrastructure Systems: Key Challenges and Issues." Journal of
Infrastructure Systems 18.3 (2012): 202-9. Web.
Staff, AWWA, and Inc ebrary. Dawn of the Replacement Era: Reinvesting in Drinking Water Infrastructure. Denver, Colo: American Water Works Association, 2008;2000;. Web.
Study Finds Safety of Drinking Water in U.S. Cities at Risk. (2003, June 10). Retrieved November 30, 2015, from
http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/uscities.asp
Timm, M. (2012). Water main breaks expose public to waterborne disease risk: Distribution systems contaminated after treatment. Retrieved
November 30, 2015, from http://home.freshwater.uwm.edu/mclellanlab/files/2013/06/6-21Water-main-breaks-expose-public-to-waterborne-disease-risk.pdf
Van Abel, Nicole A. "QMRA: Exposure Model Sensitivity to Input Parameters, Critical Review of Dose-Response Models, and Application in Assessing Risk of Aging Drinking Water Distribution Systems."
ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 2014. Web.
Water Main Break Clock. (2011). Retrieved December 4, 2015, from http://www.watermainbreakclock.com/