Ensuring Efficient Infrastructure is one of five primary goals chosen by the City Council to better serve our citizens, produce the results our citizens want, and to promote excellence among City employees. Wichita Water Utilities supports this goal, by making the rehabilitating and maintaining the City of Wichita's aging Infrastructure a priority. Water is Life and Infrastructure Makes It Happen^TM is a national campaign designed to help raise citizen's awareness about infrastructure needs.

Throughout this nation, Utilities are scrambling, and at times, struggling to keep pace with rapidly deteriorating water and sewer infrastructure. Some systems, built at the end of the 19th century and in the 1920s, are now 100 years and older. These systems were built to last 50 to 75 years.

In the February 8, 2007 issue of the New York Times, William Yardley, in an article entitled Gaping Reminders of Aging and Crumbling Pipes lists sinkhole accidents involving citizens, city vehicles, leaks, and the like emphasizing the importance of staying abreast of the situation. He states, "The Environmental Protection Agency has projected that unless cities invest more to repair and replace their water and sewer systems, nearly half of the water system pipes in the United States will be in poor, very poor or "life elapsed" status by 2020." The article also addresses the economic impact on water and sewer rates caused by delayed action and reaction to the issue.

Some FAQs about Infrastructure.

The Wichita Water Utilities are dedicated to keeping you, the Citizens of Wichita, informed of the importance of life-sustaining water and wastewater infrastructure and the investments needed to update and maintain it.

Water is Life and Infrastructure Makes It HappenTM

Wichita Water Utilities is committed to providing you with quality, reliable, customer-convenient water and sewer service that represents extraordinary value. Rehabilitating and maintaining the city’s aging infrastructure helps us to fulfill this mission. The benefits of water and wastewater infrastructure are clear -- infrastructure delivers health, prosperity, and supports our quality of life. Citizens, partnering with Wichita Water Utilities to ensure the rehabilitation and maintenance of our water and wastewater infrastructure, will enhance the City’s Quality of Life for years to come. Earth is the only known planet with water. Humans, who can last a month without food, die after a week without water. Most of us are not aware of the vast network of reservoirs, facilities, and pipes -- infrastructure -- that provides, processes, and treats our water. As the United States developed, life-sustaining investments in water and wastewater infrastructure have ensured that clean, safe water is available.

Read Infrastructure scenarios from around the United States...

• Charleston Case Study
• San Francisco Case Study
• US EPA Region 9: News Release
• US News 052707 Article - Water Woes
• Fast Company Magazine July 2007 Article - Message in a Bottle
• AMERICAN CITY&COUNTY - Leaky Old Pipes Lead to a Sinking Feeling

Infrastructure Delivers - Invest Wisely

Examples of infrastructure are beneath us and all around us - reservoirs, pipes, pumps, stormwater basins, sewers, and treatment plants. Treatment plants ensure our water is clean and safe. Pipes and pumps deliver water to our homes and businesses. Wastewater systems collect, clean, and return our used water to the environment, to be used again, and again.

Water Is Health

For hundreds of years; we have relied on water and wastewater infrastructure to protect the well being of our communities and the environment. Our health depends on safe water - from the water we drink, to the fish we eat, to the lakes we swim in. Today most Americans can turn on the tap and flush the toilet without giving it a second thought.

Water Is Prosperity

Water is the basic element for a prosperous community. Clean water fuels our national economic engine. It contributes to agriculture, industry, manufacturing, power generation and transportation. Improvements in water quality have allowed cities to make waterfront areas the centerpiece of vibrant and new development. Communities across the country benefit from water-based recreation, tourism and commercial fishing, which provide jobs and commerce. Where clean water flows, communities grow.

Water Brings Happiness

Clean water supports our quality of life. Beaches are the top vacation destination in the United States and swimming is the second most popular leisure activity. Most people agree that protecting the quality of our rivers, lakes, wetlands and oceans is a priority. Each year, our wastewater treatment plants prevent billions of tons of pollutants from reaching America’s waterways.

The Challenge:

Much of our water infrastructure -- the systems that treat, distribute, collect and clean water -- was built nearly a century ago for a smaller population. It is aging and overburdened. Even with newer facilities and innovative alternatives, upgrades are required to keep pace with growing needs and environmental challenges. In addition, sewer and water rates are not always reflective of the true cost of service.

The Environmental Protection Agency reports that by 2016 water pollution levels may deteriorate to those observed in the 1970s if we do not reinvest in our water and wastewater infrastructure.

If we do not take steps to reinvest in our water infrastructure, we risk reversing decades of progress in public health, environmental protection, economic development, and quality of life.

Ways you can help, include the following:

• Value water - learn more about water conservation and preventing water pollution.

• Read and understand your water and wastewater bill.

• Learn more about your community’s water and wastewater infrastructure.

• Initiate discussions in your community on the health of your community’s water and wastewater infrastructure.

• Support efforts to maintain and upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure.