Chapter titles like these capture
the essence of a recent report on water infrastructure
throughout America. The prognosis: "A significant
amount of buried infrastructure—the underground pipes that
make safe water available at the turn of the tap—is at
or very near the end of its expected life span." Thousands
of miles of pipes will need to be replaced over the coming
years, at an estimated cost totaling nearly $250 billion
for the entire United States.
Though not nearly so severe—Las
Virgenes Municipal Water District also has infrastructure
needs. Parts of LVMWD’s water system date back
nearly a half-century. Portions remaining from small
mutual water companies absorbed by LVMWD are even older.
And, pipe and structure longevity is reduced by the impact
of quakes, slides, and other soil movement, as well as
the high mineral content of local soils which speeds
metal corrosion.
There’s considerable work
to be done replacing and refurbishing existing infrastructure,
as well as system improvements to meet increasing demands.
Projects for the coming year are identified in LVMWD’s
Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), which also projects needs
five years into the future. Updated annually, the CIP establishes
priorities and helps assure work is staged to maximize
customer benefit and minimize community impact.
Over $16 million in capital projects
are outlined for this year, more than $10 million of which
will go to potable water system improvements such as pipe
replacements, mainline extensions, corrosion protection
for storage tanks, and improvements to pumping stations.
Where will the money come from?
Similar to a family savings account to replace the fridge
if it burns out, LVMWD has set aside money over the years.
It’s our policy to even-out the impacts of infrastructure
financing over time. Maintaining a modest Replacement Fund
makes it possible to handle occasional spikes in infrastructure
costs that otherwise could impact rates. |
