Solving the Aging Infrastructure Crisis with Total Asset Management
(Print PDH from the August 2025 issue of Informed Infrastructure)
Author: Jeffrey Johnson, PhD, P.E.
Aging water infrastructure is one of the most urgent challenges facing municipalities around the world, and it’s being exacerbated by rapid urbanization, increasing demand and the accelerating impacts of climate change.
Much of the U.S. water system was built decades ago (some parts more than 100 years old) and is now approaching the end of its useful life. These aging assets are failing at increasing rates, causing service disruptions, public health risks and long-term economic losses. Yet with the right technologies and asset-management strategies, utilities can address these challenges in a smarter, more cost-effective way.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
At the conclusion of this article, the reader should be able to:
• Explain the causes behind the aging water infrastructure crisis and the historical context.
• Quantify the economic impacts, including annual revenue loss from leaks and inefficiencies.
• Describe how technologies such as sensors, AI and asset-management platforms can help alleviate these challenges while maximizing return on investment (ROI). (TIN) surfaces to support design and documentation.
• Evaluate the role of short- and long-term capital planning tools in maintaining water infrastructure.