Old Pipes, Big Need, Little Money Have Sticker Shock
The nations wastewater treatment infrastructure is in sorry shape. Population growth and development have overwhelmed expansion of collection systems across much of the U.S. Maintenance often has lagged as many cities still rely on pipes that were put in the ground over a century ago.
Over a third of Newark, N.J.s 170-mile collection system is brick. Alexandria, Va.s sewer network even has a few feet of wooden pipe underlying its historic Old Town section. The two are not too different from aging systems in many other cities that are prone to leaks and spills.