Aging water infrastructure is a huge challenge facing the U.S. The average system age is 45 years, and some systems have pipes dating back a century. As systems continue to age more issues arise, jeopardizing communities’ water security. The pivotal obstacle is funding as it has not kept pace with infrastructure needs and the total need far outweighs the funding sources. Moreover, a new set of challenges must be anticipated by water districts: climate change, scarcity, and resiliency. Frequently, the cost for necessary upgrades is overwhelming for communities. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will support the efforts, but that amount will be quickly exhausted leaving most of the outlay responsibility resting on local sources who will, in turn, assess consumers with rate hikes.

This scenario is playing out across the nation. In Texas, The American Society of Civil Engineers has given the drinking water infrastructure a grade of C- and wastewater infrastructure a grade of D, reflecting the age of the state’s systems, corresponding deterioration, and insufficient operational maintenance. 2,457 boil-water notices across the state last year highlights the problems.[1] To make improvements, water districts are increasing rates.

On one side of the state, El Paso plans to raise rates for residential users by 13.5 percent. The increase is meant to finance routine maintenance as well as capital improvement projects. In the face of declining water from the Rio Grande in the municipal water supply, the city has invested in desalination projects and an advanced purification facility. All total, this year’s proposed budget includes $554 million for improvements, including pipes, pumping stations and treatment plants.[2]

In Pearland, on the opposite side of the state, water rates will see a similar increase of 13.1 percent this year, primarily to pay for a new water plant estimated at $175.5 million. Currently, the city’s water supply includes Houston water and ground wells; the new plant will provide resiliency to the city should either of those sources discontinue. Rate increases are not just for one year, though. Projected increases of 16%, 19%, 15% and 8% will follow in the subsequent years as the city plans to upgrade its water and wastewater infrastructure estimated at $535 million.[3]

While these cities face significant infrastructure and funding challenges, they have the benefit of systems and human resources (both consumers and skilled water employees) to initiate change. The same cannot be said for smaller, rural communities who lack structure to plan for and finance change. Boil notices are just one symptom of the problem but give a clear indication of the importance of reliable water infrastructure to a community, and until priority is given in allocating funding, water districts will continue to look to consumers to foot the bill.

[1] Lozano, Jayme, and Pooja Salhotra. “A Boil-Water Notice in Houston Made National News. in Rural Texas, It's a Way of Life.” The Texas Tribune, The Texas Tribune, 7 Dec. 2022, https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/07/boil-water-notices-rural-texas/.

[2] Pskowski, Martha. “El Paso Water Proposes Surcharge for Some New Customers, 2023 Water Rates.” El Paso Times, El Paso Times, 30 Nov. 2022, https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/local/el-paso/2022/11/30/el-paso-water-proposes-new-59-infrastructure-fee-2023-water-rates/69687406007/.

[3] Weeks, Daniel. “Pearland Raises Water Rates to Fund Sweeping Improvements to Infrastructure.” Community Impact, Community Impact, 9 Dec. 2022, https://communityimpact.com/houston/pearland-friendswood/government/2022/12/09/pearland-raises-water-rates-to-fund-sweeping-improvements-to-infrastructure/.