A Long and Expensive To-Do List

Dec. 7, 2016
Sw Jk Blog

Many other states are probably in the same boat, so to speak, but Michigan right now is in the spotlight. A commission appointed by Governor Rick Snyder has recommended more than 100 fixes—costing about $4 billion a year—to address infrastructure shortfalls, including many water-related ones.

Michigan, of course, is home to Flint, which suffered a nearly unprecedented drinking water crisis. The commission grew out of that situation, but it examined all aspects of infrastructure: transportation, wastewater treatment, drinking water, stormwater, dams, energy, and communications systems. One of the recommendations is that the state should create a comprehensive asset management system.

Among the water-related recommendations is the increased use of green infrastructure to manage stormwater. The commission also recommends replacing aging water, sewer, and stormwater infrastructure. The feasibility of replacing pipes that carry drinking water, many of which contain lead or lead solder, was widely discussed at the time the Flint crisis came to light; estimates for replacing just that city’s water pipes ranged from $700 million to $1.5 billion. Assessment and maintenance of water systems is also high on the commission’s list.

Michigan isn’t alone, of course. The American Society of Civil Engineers in its regular report card  on US infrastructure gives us an overall grade of D+ and estimates we need to invest $3.6 trillion by 2020. A recent ASCE report warns that if we don’t address the funding gaps, the US will lose nearly $4 trillion in GDP by 2025 and $18 trillion in the next 25 years, or roughly $700 billion per year.

During Infrastructure Week last May, the editors of Forester Media’s seven publications asked various industry experts for their thoughts on infrastructure priorities and funding. You can find a collection of their responses here.

You can also see a list of the major recommendations of the Michigan commission here, broken down by category.
About the Author

Janice Kaspersen

Janice Kaspersen is the former editor of Erosion Control and Stormwater magazines.