While building models is nothing new, when it comes to water and wastewater utilities, the idea of emulating a system in order to simulate a real-world situation without risk is a concept that is becoming essential for ideal decision-making.

Without adequate transportation, water supply, sanitation, energy systems and social infrastructure such as schools and hospitals, countries risk lagging behind their peers in the growth of economic development drivers, including businesses and the jobs they create.

Over the past 15 years, green design and construction has become a fast-growing initiative as owners in the water and wastewater sector have adopted sustainable design policies to lower energy usage and to save cost.

While nearly every water utility anticipates increasing difficulties in hiring technically qualified employees, Orange County Utilities in Orlando, Fla., has designed a utility-wide approach to retaining and developing in-demand expertise and leadership.

In 2011, the City of San Angelo in central Texas was facing a challenge any town would dread. Severe drought had left its main water source less than two years from complete exhaustion. The solution was a 63-mile pipeline that would transport well water from the Hickory Creek Aquifer near Melvin, Texas, to the water treatment plant in San Angelo.

As infrastructure ages, water utility owners are tasked with the replacement of water mains which are reaching the end of their useful life. While certain sections of water main can be replaced with a common open cut-and replace-method, others run under highways, down busy streets and under rivers.

A widening investment gap in U.S. water infrastructure is reaching a breaking point as assets reach the end of their useful lives, encouraging municipalities to consider private sector participation. Municipal governments fund 90 percent of water infrastructure but have suffered from weak credit ratings and unsustainable rates in recent years.

The White House has requested $2.3 billion for the Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds as part of the FY2016 budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency?s (EPA) Environment Research Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, held its Technology Collaboration and Transfer seminar on Dec. 2.

Earlier this month, New Jersey Gov. Christie signed a bill that would allow financially strapped municipalities to more rapidly sell off, lease or transfer government-owned water-supply facilities and wastewater treatment plants to the private sector.