Infrastructure

The replacement value (in 2014 dollars) of drinking water infrastructure in Delaware is estimated at $4 billion. This estimate is based on a detailed inventory of major assets at each of 35 public water utilities in the State.  Sustaining the functionality of these systems will require an investment of over $1 billion over a 20-year period. The needs assessment study, commissioned by the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH), found that the four large community systems in the State appear to be on a pace to meet their investment needs but projects an investment gap of over $300 million for the small and medium utilities.  The full report can be found here (look under “Program Overview” for “Water Infrastructure Advisory Council – Drinking Water Needs Assessment, February 2015.”). DPH commissioned follow-on work seeking to understand how best to foster asset management and financial planning in these utilities to sustain infrastructure functionality. A draft report on recommendations to foster sustainability is being reviewed by DPH.