7월 1일 물 관련 인프라 자원의 조달의 미래를 논의하는 범국가적 모임이 워싱턴 D.C., 아이젠하워(Eisenhower) 최고 사무 빌딩에서 열릴 예정이다. 모임은 백악관 환경 부서에 의해서 주최되고 미국 환경보호청(EPA)와 시카고 도심 수역(MWRD) 최고 관리자 데이비드 생피에르(David St.Pierre)와 합작하여 진행된다.

지난 몇 세기동안, 70만 마일에 이르는 물 관련 인프라가 전국에 걸쳐 설치되었다. 전국 고속도로의 4배에 이르는 각지의 가정에 음용수를 공급하고 오수를 처리시설로 운반하는 파이프는 낡아지고 있고 앞으로의 투자와 개선이 요구된다.

June 28, 2013 -- A nationwide gathering to discuss the future of water infrastructure funding will be held at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., on July 1. The meeting will be hosted by the White House Council on Environmental Quality in collaboration with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's (MWRD) Executive Director David St. Pierre.

Over the past century, 700,000 miles of water infrastructure has been constructed across the country. At four times the length of the national highway system, pipes that provide drinking water to households and take waste to treatment facilities are aging and in need of significant repair and investment.

The EPA estimates that the cost to upgrade the nation's drinking and wastewater infrastructure is at least $635 billion over the next 20 years. However, many communities rely on municipal bonds that are repaid with water utility fees but are finding that option ­no longer viable. While the EPA's State Revolving Loan funds have helped facilitate $120 billion in financing over the past 25 years, this resource is insufficient to meet expected demand for water infrastructure upgrades. Innovative solutions are required, and this meeting provided the forum to discuss such solutions.

"Utilities should be the model for efficient government," said Mr. St. Pierre. "Through proper management of resources, utilities can meet the challenge of infrastructure maintenance. I look forward to participating in this vital discussion."

[출처: Waterworld / 2013년 6월 28일]