WSSC: county wastewater deferred maintenance exceeds $2 billion in initial estimates

Tom Hilton told the committee the utility's initial inventory of deferred maintenance and upcoming capital needs runs into the hundreds of millions and billions of dollars.

"Currently, projects either under construction or in the queue amount to $88,500,000," Hilton said, and added that initial findings indicate future needs amounting to about "$2,020,100,000" (transcript figures as presented). Hilton emphasized the numbers are preliminary and part of a work-in-progress facility planning effort.

WSSC reported inspecting over 5,000 assets at Prince George's County recovery facilities (about 69% of the wastewater-side facility assets) and nearly 3,000 pumping-station assets for condition assessments. The utility said it will use those assessments and cost/priority analyses to recommend projects for the county's CIP and to evaluate spending affordability and risk.