| Infrastructure and clean water is at risk |
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To compound the problem, our water infrastructure is aging, and the growing use of Chloramine as a system disinfectant, is degrading our plumbing components. Our 700,000 miles of pipes that deliver water to the U.S. buildings are repeatedly breaking, losing an estimated 14% of our fresh water supply each year. The US EPA estimates that it will cost up to $1 trillion in infrastructure upgrades to fix this problem and ensure the quality of America's water supply. These costs will further drive up our water utility rates. And, since the 1998 EPA mandate to reduce Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs), many drinking water utilities are switching to Chloramine as the primary system disinfectant. While effective, it has been shown to increase the rate of degradation in the elastomers and polymers commonly used in plumbing components (American Water Works Association Research Foundation). This has resulted in ongoing plumbing failures, inconveniencing customers, and ultimately driving up facility maintenance costs. |