Toxic Waters – Saving U.S. Water and Sewer Systems Would Be Costly
WASHINGTON — One recent morning, George S. Hawkins, a long-haired environmentalist who now leads one of the largest and most prominent water and sewer systems, trudged to a street corner here where water was gushing into the air.
Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times
As head of Washington's water department, George Hawkins, left, is on the scene every time a major sewer or water line breaks.
The Breaking Point
Articles in this series are examining the worsening pollution in America’s waters and regulators’ responses.
Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times
Mr. Hawkins's goal is to replace, within the next century, the pipes that were installed in Washington a hundred years ago.
A cold snap had ruptured a major pipe installed the same year the light bulb was invented. Homes near the fashionable Dupont Circle neighborhood were quickly going dry, and Mr. Hawkins, who had recently taken over the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority despite having no experience running a major utility, was responsible for fixing the problem.
As city employees searched for underground valves, a growing crowd started asking angry questions. Pipes were breaking across town, and fire hydrants weren’t working, they complained. Why couldn’t the city deliver water, one man yelled at Mr. Hawkins.
via Toxic Waters – Saving U.S. Water and Sewer Systems Would Be Costly – NYTimes.com.
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