Jan. 17

A $202.5 billion nationwide capital investment is necessary to control wastewater pollution for up to a 20-year period, according to a new report from the U.S. EPA.

The 2004 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey, delivered to Congress this week, summarizes the results of the agency´s 14th national survey on the needs of publicly owned wastewater treatment works. The estimate includes $134.4 billion for wastewater treatment and collection systems, $54.8 billion for combined sewer overflow corrections, and $9.0 billion for storm water management.

Communities across the country face challenges in sustaining their water infrastructure. The needs in this survey represent a $16.1 billion, or 8.6 percent, increase in constant 2004 dollars compared with the 2000 report.

Details on the survey are available online at www.epa.gov/cwns .

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