AWWA ACE70900

This powerpoint presentation begins by providing a brief overview of the Aspen Institute and the Dialogue on Sustainable Water Infrastructure in the U.S. The Aspen Method of amoderated dialogue where participants fromvarious backgrounds and perspectives have aninteractive discussion. Participants met four times between May 2008 andMarch 2009 to: peel back the layers of complexity surrounding thenation's water infrastructure; explore the sometimes competing values that underliewater infrastructure planning, management andfinancing; and, develop policy recommendations for a sustainablewater infrastructure. Events that preceded this dialog are listed, along with perceived problems including: high end estimates from the various gap reports aretypically quoted, a near doubling of infrastructure investment is needed; local rate payers are unable to bear this burden, beyondtheir capacity; the enormous difference between future costs and recentspending, the "funding gap", justifies an increase in federalrole and financial support; and, media perpetuation of the crumbling infrastructure image. Conclusions relative to these perceptions are presented, along with trust fund trends identified by the Water Utility Council in 2008, 20 critical elements of the sustainable path, the appropriate federal role, and the strategic use of incentives to encourage sustainability.

Product Details

Edition:

Vol. - No.

Published:

11/01/2009

Number of Pages:

16

File Size:

1 file , 1 MB