Rusting infrastructure

The NYT’s Green Blog refers to a report on the growing problem with aging water and sewer systems. In 2004, the EPA estimated that about 900 billion gallons of untreated sewage are discharged annually by failing sewer systems. Failing water systems could have a large impact on certain industries:

…Jeff Sterba keeps a piece of wooden pipe, 10 inches in diameter and with a hole in its side, on his desk that he said was unearthed during repairs on an Iowa system only three years ago. Until then, it was in use, although it probably dated back to the 19th century.

“That’s what’s scary,” he said of the water lines. “It’s out of sight, out of mind. It’s a crumbling infrastructure that you don’t see.”