Water Infrastructure Maintenance Needs—A Case Study

Adoption of measures to prevent loss of water in many cases is cost-effective. In order to illustrate the magnitude of infrastructure problems of large cities, a test case infrastructure study for the City of Buffalo water system has been conducted. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the Buffalo water system, to identify the problem areas, to suggest possible alternative solutions, to estimate costs to rehabilitate the system and to make a financial and institutional analysis to determine the magnitude of shortfall. This study examines a number of alternatives for upgrading the City of Buffalo Water Distribution System and estimates a range of capital costs between 171 million and 312 million in 1980 dollars. The financial analysis was performed assuming that the improvements would be phased throughout a 30-year planning period and financed with 15-year bonds at current rates.