Online Tool Provides Financial Forecasts for Infrastructure Replacement

AWWA’s Buried No Longer tool is a resource that utilities can use in planning for their own system’s upgrades, and the data will also be used to develop a national report about infrastructure needs
Online Tool Provides Financial Forecasts for Infrastructure Replacement

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Dealing with the financial side of upgrading infrastructure is one of the biggest challenges that utilities face. Recently, the American Water Works Association launched a new online tool that can help.

The Buried No Longer tool allows utilities to forecast the cost of pipe repair and replacement needs. It provides cost estimates as well as financial deferrals based on a utility’s inputted data, and can be broken down by pipe size or material. Twenty-nine graphical outputs are generated to create a profile that is reflective of a utility’s unique infrastructure needs. The data submitted not only helps utilities determine costs for upgrading their own system, but it will also be used by AWWA to compile a report about future infrastructure needs nationwide.

AWWA’s launch of the Buried No Longer tool coincided with an announcement from Congress that an additional $10 million will be appropriated for the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA). The additional amount brings this year’s WIFIA funding to $30 million, which can leverage an estimated $1.5 billion in federal loans.

“Our Buried No Longer tool and continued work on WIFIA demonstrates AWWA is committed to helping water utilities overcome water infrastructure challenges in their communities,” says Tracy Mehan, AWWA executive director of government affairs.

The video below shows how to get started with the Buried No Longer tool.



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