U.S. Water-Network Pipes Reflect Aging Infrastructure

According to projections from the EPA, water-pipe replacement rates will peak in 2035 at 16,000 to 20,000 miles of pipes replaced per year—four times the current annual replacement rate of 4,000 to 5,000 miles.
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Edited by Chris Pasion

Managing Editor, Modern Machine Shop | Production Machining

According to a report by McKinsey and Company, the average U.S. water-network pipe is 45 years old, with some cast-iron pipes more than a century old. The Midwest and Southeast have seen high rates of breakage in recent years. The aging infrastructure has also led to high water-loss rates from leaks in the water distribution network system.

According to projections from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), water-pipe replacement rates will peak in 2035 at 16,000 to 20,000 miles of pipes replaced per year — four times the current annual replacement rate of 4,000 to 5,000 miles. The EPA also estimates that it could take an investment of up to $839 million per year to replace and monitor the 9.7 million to 12.8 million lead service lines that are currently in use in the United States as a response to the updated Lead and Copper Rule.