Sewer
(IN PHOTO) A view of the outfall pipes from The City of Detroit Water and Sewerage Wastewater Treatment Plant are seen along the Detroit River in Detroit, Michigan October 1, 2013. In bankruptcy and looking for cash, Detroit would like to lease its water utility to raise as much as $9 billion to fund basic services long term, but talks with neighboring suburban counties are stalled. Picture taken October 1. Reuters

The American Water Works Association (AWWA) said that the government needs to spend at least US$1 trillion [$1.34 trillion] to make every water pipe across the country capable of providing potable water. If it fails to invest wisely in waterways infrastructure programs, a large percentage of the entire American population is most likely to be affected by absolute water scarcity in 2025.

According to the United Nations, this could also affect the whole world if the issue remains unaddressed, as the threat of widespread water pollution is worse in countries with smaller economy. The problem of deteriorating pipelines due to age and constant overflowing has been a national quandary since the beginning of the current century, but experts admit that utilities haven’t moved quickly enough to address these issues.

The lack of software and hardware tools is one of the top reasons why utilities fail to give local pipelines the maintenance they need. Also, experts believe that home and establishment owners must understand that alleviating such a quandary can be done by simply taking care of their own tanks. Water and septic tank maintenance is among the most overlooked responsibilities at home, as most people think that such is unnecessary, if not expensive. The result of this blatant overlook is a million miles of underground pipes awaiting replacement, making every American household more and more vulnerable to undrinkable water.

Ecosciences Inc. (OTCQB: ECEZ), a start-up bioremediation service provider firm, wants to educate communities through its newest products. Its Eco-Logical Wastewater Tablets have active oxygen, nutrients, buffers, and safe aerobic microorganisms that can clean and keep wastewater systems from being clogged. Through this, the company believes that it can convince Americans that they can help the government in alleviating the problems in the waterways treatment segment.

According to a Report Card for America’s Infrastructure released by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the nation’s water infrastructure is currently at its worst — giving it a dismal D+ grade — as the government continuously fails to address the 240,000 water main breaks that occur in the country every year.

“The bottom line is that we’re not investing in our underground infrastructure. Hundreds of billions in water and sewer improvements are not being made,” Patrick Cairo, senior vice president for corporate development at Suez Environment, told non-profit media organisation Fair Observer.

Most public officials are now upping their respective games to be part of this nationwide advocacy. Local officials are now listening attentively to the sentiments of their constituents because the call for cleaner and newer pipelines are becoming louder and louder every day.

Some advocacy leaders, however, say that one of the most difficult things about their job is convincing people that this undertaking is not just about commitment from all parties — residents, government officials, environmental groups — but also about obtaining enough financial support from the local and federal government itself. The goal is to face 2025 with all these problems no longer existent.

Contact the writer: a.lu@ibtimes.com.au

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