Across the country, pipes lying below ground are getting older, leading to more cracks, leaks and all out breaks.
According to the American Water Works Association, water infrastructure nationwide is reaching the end of its useful life. The association stated in a 2011 report "Buried No Longer" that restoring water systems and "expanding them to serve a growing population will cost at least $1 trillion over the next 25 years, if we are to maintain current levels of water service."
As the pipes get older, breaks are becoming more common. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, there are an estimated 240,000 water main breaks each year in the United States, leading to more water being lost every year.
In Jefferson City, Missouri American Water maintains approximately 150 miles of water mains, some of which are more than 120 years old, said Ann Dettmer, communications manager for Missouri American Water.
"The pipes, pumps and plants that make up our water, wastewater and storm water systems are "hidden infrastructure,'" Dettmer said. "Yet they are vital to the health, safety and economic vitality of our communities."
There have been 67 water main breaks in Jefferson City this year, though Dettmer said the primary factor for many of those breaks "was the extremely cold winter weather, creating unusually cold water temperatures in the Missouri River (the source of our water)." Last year, there were 54 water main breaks in Jefferson City, Dettmer said.
She added Missouri American Water tries to be proactive in replacing aging pipes and the five-year pipe replacement rate in Jefferson City is above the national average by one-tenth of a percent. In the past seven years, she said, the company has invested approximately $1.26 million in replacing aging water mains in Jefferson City.
"The entire system has grown steadily over 100 years, so we have to be strategic - focusing on keeping water service reliable and analyzing the greatest needs of the system," Dettmer said.
Dettmer cited some of the company's larger projects in the area from the past few years, including a new $3.5 million water tank near the city's newest fire station on Missouri 179, as well as an $11 million water intake system completed in 2011.
But more investment will be needed throughout the state to combat leaks, breaks and other issues. Dettmer said, in Missouri alone, $8.4 billion is needed throughout the next 20 years.
Wastewater and stormwater
The city's wastewater and stormwater systems are struggling with the same issues.
Public Works Director Matt Morasch said there are 429 miles of the city's wastewater system, with more than 75 percent of it being more than 50 years old, and 26 miles of it have been replaced since 2004. Morasch said the city's wastewater system is in good shape in terms of repairs and replacement largely thanks to funding.
The city's wastewater fund is what's called an enterprise fund, meaning its self-sustaining and not reliant on general fund revenues. In 2010, voters approved a $35 million bond issue to help pay for sewer replacement and reductions in infiltration and inflow.
Morasch said wastewater systems are very heavily regulated by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which helps encourage a continuous cycle of repairs, replacements and upgrades. He said the city has a plan in place, which has been reviewed by the regulatory agencies, that seeks to be as proactive as possible with needed work on the wastewater system.
Morasch said the city monitors the condition of pipes through cameras and checking underground during ongoing projects, and keeps a list of needed repairs ranked by priority.
"I think the wastewater side is keeping up and doing well," Morasch said. "Really, we're doing a pretty good job."
However, the city's stormwater system is harder to update, considering, unlike the wastewater system, there is no dedicated funding source for the system itself. Morasch said there are 145 miles of the city's stormwater system and a lot of it is in need of repair, especially in the older areas of Jefferson City. He said the average age of the pipes is not known, but likely the system is at least as old as the wastewater system.
He said the city tries to take care of repairs during the annual overlay program, but especially with staff and budget cuts in recent years, as well as a lack of dedicated funding, it's more difficult to keep up. Morasch said projects are funded through the city's half-cent capital improvement sales tax and general revenue funds, and noted the street department often helps as well.
"We've kind of lost a little ground on that respect ... just because of staffing levels for now," Morasch said. "There's no steady stream of funding."
That leads to more of a reactive response to stormwater issues, Morasch said, rather than the preferred proactive stance. Many issues become known either through complaints or observations of the street department employees, he said.
Morasch said the city is able to save on costs by trying to incorporate any underground work with planned projects that would require a street to be torn out. He said city staff meets often with state and county officials to plan large projects, working together whenever possible. Eric Seaman, wastewater division director, said that type of coordination also helps minimize the disruption to residents.
Dettmer said Missouri American Water also communicates with city, county and state officials on projects to coordinate needed work.