Rebuilding America: APA National Infrastructure Investment Task Force

Field Hearing: Denver

December 2, 2008 • 12:00 noon – 1:15 p.m.

Marriott Denver City Center
1701 California St.
Denver

Join us in Denver for the 2008 Sustainable Water Infrastructure Forum, hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the American Planning Association.

This is one in a series of regional forums being held around the country over the next two years to address pressing issues and challenges faced by communities in ensuring the sustainability of their water infrastructure. We hope to draw a diverse array of stakeholders, including planners; municipal leaders and decision makers; utility managers; consultants; environmental advocacy groups; developers; and state, local, tribal, and other federal partners.

Download a flyer for this event (pdf)

What Is the Sustainable Infrastructure Initiative?

EPA's Clean Water and Drinking Water Infrastructure Gap Analysis (2002) identified several issues that raised concern as to the ability of utilities to keep up with their infrastructure needs in the future:

• Our wastewater and drinking water systems are aging;
• The U.S. population is increasing and shifting geographically;
• Current treatment may not be sufficient to address emerging issues and potentially stronger regulatory requirements;
• Investment in research and development has declined; and
• The potential funding shortfall for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure could exceed $500 billion by 2020 if capital investment, operations and maintenance remained at current levels.

Additional Challenges Facing Western States

Substantial funding shortfalls for water and wastewater infrastructure are coupled with unprecedented growth rate projections in many western states over the next 25 years. Much of the water in the West is already appropriated, so water to accommodate new demand must rely on changes to existing uses or limited — and often expensive — opportunities to develop new supplies.

This situation is complicated in EPA's Region 8 by a host of additional challenges, including significant population growth rates, lack of water resources, impacts of climate uncertainty on water resources, and the rapid growth of the energy industry, which will place additional burdens upon available supplies and further strain the ability of water utilities to sustain themselves.

Housing

The Marriott Denver City Center has extended the deadline for reduced hotel rates until November 10.

Registration

Visit the EPA Region 8 website for forum information and registration details.