CHICAGO — Rust is being named the biggest threat to drinking water supplies, according to a January 23 Reuters story.
Montana State University microbiologist and water research scientist Timothy Ford said in the story, "If you clean up water and then put it into a dirty pipe, there's not much point. I consider the distribution system to be the highest risk and the greatest problem we are going to be facing in the future."
American Water Works Association Executive Director Jack Hoffbuhr predicts that within 20 to 30 years utilities will spend $250 to $350 billion replacing water pipes, according to the article.
According to Eric Goldstein of the Natural Resources Defense Council, there are signs that distribution systems in Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver and New York City "are in need of repair," the story reported.
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