Infrastructure Report Cards

Do you remember anxious moments prior to receiving your academic report cards? They served as a measure of performance as well as kept your parents in the loop and identified areas in which improvement was needed.
The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) has developed an Infrastructure Report card. In much the same way as a traditional “report card,” it is intended to keep everyone in the loop and provide a measure of performance and necessary improvements regarding infrastructure.
Infrastructure refers to the basic physical and organizational structures and facilities needed to operate a society or enterprise. Infrastructure includes the pipes, wires, and roads that we all use every day.
In 1998, due to much of our infrastructure aging and suffering from deterioration, the ASCE developed an Infrastructure Report Card to provide the public, as well as decision-makers, with the performance information about the nation’s infrastructure. It also identifies areas for improvement with the goal of enhancing its condition.
This information brings to light the importance of our infrastructure. Can you imagine a day when the water doesn’t come out of the faucet, roads become unpassable, or the power for light or heat is unavailable? Infrastructure plays a vital part in our daily lives in so many ways yet is often taken for granted.
The ASCE Infrastructure Report Card rates vital areas of focus like: Drinking Water, Wastewater, Roads, Bridges, Dams, Stormwater, Aviation, and ten other areas. Ratings for each of these areas are compiled for each state and comprise the national score. The overall national grades are as follows:

While some improvement has occurred, what else needs to be done? What is the grade for your community or state? Contact Commonwealth Engineers to find out how we can help your community improve its water resource infrastructure. For additional information or assistance, contact Theresa Criss-Hartwig or visit commonwealthengineers.com.