The U.S. water infrastructure design and construction market perfectly reflects the tension between needs and funding present in many U.S. infrastructure markets today. On one hand, water infrastructure needs are too great for markets to remain flat for long. On the other hand, funding sources remain unable to provide the necessary level investment. Despite the contradicting forces of needs and funding, FMI forecasts slow growth in the water infrastructure market in 2013. Overall growth in construction put in place is expected to grow just below 2 percent. The water supply market, which accounts for 37 percent of the market, will grow at approximately 1.1 percent, while the sewage and waste disposal market, roughly 63 percent of the market, will grow at 2.1 percent. To explain FMI's modest optimism, this article outlines the depth of the funding challenges that municipali- ties face and the tremendous needs in U.S. water infrastructure while commenting on recent developments that point toward growth.
展开▼
