Anyone who has ever driven across a potholed road would not be surprised to discover that the American Society of Civil Engineers have recently given America’s overall “grade” for infrastructure as a D+.  As a matter of fact, this same report card declares that the United States will need to invest a whopping 3.6 trillion dollars in order to bring our infrastructure up to speed.  Some of the categories that received the worst grades were the energy sector, wastewater and roads, all with D’s.  While the problems seem daunting, the solutions are surprisingly simple.

Take, for example, the issue of wastewater.  Perhaps there is nothing quite so frightening as the thought of our wastewater being improperly treated and released back into the water tables.  Just the thought of a sewer overflow is gross enough for most of us to realize how dangerous a “D” in this category is.  The nation’s wastewater is estimated to need just under $300 billion dollars over the next twenty years, and since the federal government has progressively required more and more cities to invest in their sewer equipment, this figure could well increase.

But the interesting part of this study is that pipes represent the largest capital need – a whopping three quarters of the total need.  By fixing and expanding the pipes, many of the wastewater issues are addressed at the source.  This is where it is critical for municipalities to partner with an equipment expert.  Part of what keeps the pipes running smoothly could be the need for a static mixer that treats the water by flash mixing chemicals into the water.  But while the national dollars needed to solve the wastewater problem may seem daunting, quality products need not require an act of Congress to acquire!  Komax static mixers for pipelines, for example, result in a 90% energy savings compared to mechanical mixers.  Upgrading is not only necessary for a healthy community but will pay for itself in energy savings quickly.