The recent water leak in Midtown Atlanta has raised a significant national issue: aging water infrastructure. As cities nationwide grapple with deteriorating water systems, the City of Roswell is reminding residents of its proactive stance in maintaining and enhancing its water infrastructure to prevent such crises.
The water main break in Atlanta led to substantial service disruptions across the city, leaving residents and businesses without water for days. The leak was attributed to corroded pipes, some nearly a century old, underscoring the challenges faced by many urban areas with aging infrastructure. Atlanta residents experienced prolonged outages as city crews worked to repair the broken main .
In contrast, Roswell officials say their long-term investments in water infrastructure are a model of preventative maintenance.
“While other communities across the country are just starting to think about this issue, the City of Roswell has taken action. We are taking every opportunity to make sure our water infrastructure is safe and reliable for years to come,” said Mayor Kurt Wilson.
Roswell’s approach includes a Pipe Replacement Program, which allocates $400,000 to $500,000 annually for assessing and replacing aging water pipes. This program ensures that pipes nearing the end of their useful life are systematically replaced, reducing the risk of unexpected breaks and leaks.
Moreover, Roswell has integrated advanced monitoring technologies, such as iHydrant, which provides real-time data on water pressure and temperature. This system enables the city to quickly identify and address potential issues before they escalate into major problems, similar to the ones seen in Atlanta.
The importance of such measures is backed up by data from the American Water Works Association, which estimates that the United States loses about 2.1 trillion gallons of water annually due to pipe breaks.
