(Kansas City, Mo.) – This week, KC Water along with businesses, labor organizations, elected officials, and others celebrate Infrastructure Week with the theme Infrastructure Matters.
Strong, resilient infrastructure is critical to our country’s economic growth and vitality. Yet, we are still falling behind due to crumbling and outdated roads, bridges, rails, airports and seaports, water and sewer pipes, and the power grid. The failure to invest in infrastructure increases drag on the whole economy, costing America $2 in GDP for every $1 we fail to invest.
Much of Kansas City’s drinking water infrastructure is nearing the end of its useful life. The city’s first pipes were installed in 1874. Today, Kansas City maintains 2,800 miles of pipe. KC Water is working on a solution with its Water Main Replacement Program. The goal is to replace one percent, or 28 miles, of pipe each year. The program started in 2012 when there were more than 1,800 water main breaks. Many were because of the drought, but others could be blamed on the age of the pipe. Last year, the number of main breaks dropped to 818, the fewest in 18 years.
“This is a strategic, long-term, 100-year investment by KC Water to deliver safe and reliable drinking water to today’s customers and future generations,” said KC Water Director Terry Leeds.
“We are thrilled that KC Water is joining Infrastructure Week. The dire state of America’s infrastructure is one of the most pressing issues facing us as a nation, and the benefits of a healthy infrastructure system are far-reaching and long-lasting,” said Zach Schafer, Director of Infrastructure Week. “During Infrastructure Week, we are bringing together minds from the public and private sector to encourage lawmakers to continue investing in infrastructure and transportation at the federal, state and local level.”
More information about Infrastructure Week can be found here: www.infrastructureweek.org.
For more information, please contact Brooke Givens, Media Relations Coordinator, at brooke.givens@kcmo.org or 816.513.0284.
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KC Water maintains and operates water treatment and distribution systems, stormwater management systems, and wastewater collection and treatment systems for residential and business customers in Kansas City and for wholesale customers in the Kansas City area. KC Water is primarily funded by fees charged to customers based on their use or impacts on the three utility systems.
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