Officials Say Water Bill Headed for Major Increase

The cost to repair aging water pipes over the next 25 years is estimated to cost at least $1 trillion, according to a national report by American Water Works Association called Buried No Longer Confronting America's Water Infrastructure Challenge.

Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission's (WSSC) Chief Executive Officer Jerry Johnson says he understands the growing demand for water usage and issues with the aging pipelines.

"Every day we are working on plans not only to ramp up the number of miles we can replace, but how to pay for it," Johnson said.

WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation responsible for Montgomery and Prince George's counties.

About 1,400 miles of water pipe managed by WSSC out of 5,600 miles is more than 50-years-old and over the next six years, the company plans to spend more than three-quarters of a billion dollars for water pipe replacement and reconstruction.

This year, the water company plans to replace 41 miles of water mains. By 2015, WSSC plans to replace 55 miles of water pipes per year.