Strategic indicators for characterization of water system infrastructure and management

Shifts in the US water industry are characteristic of the flux found across all infrastructure sectors. Economic, environmental, market, regulatory and systemic forces are pushing the industry toward a different future where challenges of significant capital formation, competitiveness, efficiency and resource allocation will be prevalent. Amidst these drivers, longstanding assumptions about water provision and management are under scrutiny. The path forward remains unsettled as industry players debate the role of the federal government in financing pending capital challenges. The two sides of the debate describe divergent paths, and the one taken will define the industry's near-term structure. One hand indicates a pending crisis that necessitates substantial federal assistance while the other suggests staying the course towards self-sufficiency.