Why are utility rate increases so important? Sometimes we fail to mention the much less visible element of local infrastructure – our fresh water and wastewater treatment infrastructure. What is infrastructure? Infrastructure is the water line and sewer pipe under your street, the storm drain at the corner and the water and wastewater treatment facility that services our community.

To safeguard public health, maintain our quality of life and economic growth and protect the environment in the coming years, much of the water and sewer pipes and treatment systems must be replaced in the City of Torrington.

It is easy to take water for granted, but we must not. Water and wastewater utilities must plan to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in capital infrastructure over the next 20 years, according to estimates from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Congressional Budget Office.

Nationally, the projected costs of revitalizing and expanding the water systems range from $485 billion to nearly $1.2 trillion. Each community will need to determine how to pay for these necessary improvements, including Torrington, where expensive upgrades will be needed to our water and wastewater plants to meet future EPA requirements.