Black & Veatch recently released a report identifying the top challenges in the water and wastewater industry. Not surprisingly, aging infrastructure topped the list, along with capital costs and funding.

The report is based on a comprehensive survey of U.S. utility leaders and includes analysis and recommendations from Black & Veatch water industry experts.

In a press release announcing the report, Black & Veatch’s global water business president Cindy Wallis-Lage said utility leaders are continuously challenged to make the most of limited budgets. “As a result, the vast majority of survey respondents doubt the sufficiency of their future funding to manage and maintain their systems,” she said.

Key findings from the report included the following:

• More than 75 percent of respondents have taken measures to reduce energy consumption within their utility operations. Electricity used to produce water can account for as much as 30 percent of water utility budgets.
• More than half of survey respondents stated they are implementing asset management improvement programs.
• 85 percent of respondents said average water consumers have little-to-no understanding of the gap between rates paid and the cost of providing water and wastewater services.
• Despite funding concerns, the majority of utilities are not considering other forms of financing such as public-private partnerships.

The full report, titled “Strategic Directions in the U.S. Water Utility Industry,” can be downloaded at http://bv.com/survey.