Last year’s Black & Veatch Strategic Directions: Water Industry Report called for widespread industry collaboration to overcome concerns about costs and customer demand. Since the 2016 report, increased levels of focus on sustainability and the role of data are showing promise as answers to the years-long conflicts between our aging infrastructure and a safe, resilient water supply.
For the first time, we asked water providers exactly how aging infrastructure was affecting their operations. Capital costs, unbudgeted emergency work and operational costs predictably came out on top. The report examines how data analytics, consumer education on infrastructure modernization and a more comprehensive view of sustainability are helping water utilities gain ground on these challenges.