The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Wednesday released a survey showing Pennsylvania has $6.950 billion in wastewater infrastructure repair/replacement needs, including the pipes that carry wastewater to treatment plants, the technology that treats the water, and methods for managing stormwater runoff.

The survey found infrastructure needs by category in Pennsylvania are:

— $2.826 billion: combined sewer overflow correction;

— $1.230 billion: secondary wastewater treatment;

— $1.209 billion: conveyance system repair;

— $916.8 million: new conveyance systems; and

— $766.6 million: advanced wastewater treatment.

A total of 576 facilities require upgrades.

“The only way to have clean and reliable water is to have infrastructure that is up to the task,” said Joel Beauvais, EPA’s Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator for Water. “Our nation has made tremendous progress in modernizing our treatment plants and pipes in recent decades, but this survey tells us that a great deal of work remains.”

Adequate wastewater infrastructure plays a vital role in the health of streams, rivers, and lakes, where discharged wastewater and stormwater runoff often end up. Wastewater infrastructure must also become more resilient to the impacts of climate change, including sea level rise, stronger and more frequent storms, flooding, and drought.

Wastewater infrastructure improvements also support healthy economies. Construction projects create good-paying jobs, and where new facilities are built, workers are needed to operate and maintain them. Upgraded infrastructure results in cleaner water, which is essential for many businesses and sectors of the economy.

For more information, visit EPA’s Infrastructure Needs Survey Data Dashboard webpage.

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1/18/2016