Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs, Greening the Environment

Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs, Greening the Environment

Published: October 2011

Authors: Emily Gordon, Jeremy Hays, Ethan Pollack, Daniel Sanchez and Jason Walsh

Pages: 58


Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure, Creating Jobs, Greening the Environment

Overview

Every year, 860 billion gallons of untreated sewage enter the United States’ waterways – enough to cover the entire state of Pennsylvania with waste one-inch deep. Investment in the nation’s stormwater and wastewater infrastructure has failed to keep up with demand, falling by one-third since its 1975 peak. This study asserts that building new water infrastructure is essential to the health of ecosystems and communities. The authors suggest that the United States is in a unique position to carry out water infrastructure solutions that address social equity issues as well as current and future environmental concerns through green infrastructure.

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