Every four years since 1999, the EPA has sponsored a Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (DWINSA) evaluating the drinking water infrastructure capital improvement needs of the country and each state over the next 20 years. The results of these surveys are used by the EPA to determine the percentage of the DWSRF appropriation that each State will receive.
The 2011 (Fifth) DWINSA showed that Connecticut’s estimated need had grown from $1.394 billion in 2007 and $3.587 billion in 2011.
The 2015 (Sixth) DWINSA report showed that this need had increased even further to $4.018 billion.
The breakdown of these needs are as follows:
- Transmission and Distribution $2.542 billion
- Treatment $770.4 million
- Storage $400.9 million
- Source $187.6 million
- Other $116.7 million
The American Society of Civil Engineers has also reviewed the nation’s infrastructure and published a “Report Card” grading the various types. In 2018, a state-specific detailed report card was issued for Connecticut. Drinking water received an overall grade of “C”. Connecticut’s information in this report card was based in part on the needs survey.