Report: $234 billion in spending expected over next decade for municipal pipe networks

More than $234 billion of capital expenditures (CAPEX) are expected over the next 10 years to address aging municipal water and wastewater pipe network infrastructure, according to a new forecast from Bluefield Research. Precipitated by decades of underinvestment, municipal utilities are under increasing pressure to address deteriorating linear assets at a faster pace.

According to Bluefield’s new report, Underground Infrastructure: U.S. Water & Wastewater Pipe Network Forecast, 2019-2028, pipe networks and associated hardware (e.g. manholes, hydrants, valves) make up 37 percent of total forecasted municipal CAPEX that includes water and wastewater treatment facilities.