How old is that sewer? Website has answers
The Minnesota state auditor introduced a new online tool Wednesday designed to display the age and condition of some infrastructure, like water and sewer systems around the state.
The State Auditor's Infrastructure Stress Transparency Tool visualizes city wastewater information, drinking water data and basic finances of water and sewer systems.
State Auditor Rebecca Otto said she hopes city and state policy makers will use the data as they make plans for infrastructure improvements or repairs.
"I heard too many people say, 'We don't have any one place where we can find all of our civil infrastructure,'" Otto said. "If you don't know where you sit today comprehensively, how do you plan for tomorrow?"
Create a More Connected Minnesota
MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.
Otto said the reaction from officials so far has been enthusiastic. She hopes better access to the information may help communities in the state avoid situations where residents are potentially exposed to dangerous conditions due to deterioration.
"By making this transparent, by having it out there for anybody to see, we should not have surprises," Otto said. "My goal is that we have better outcomes as a state, that we avoid major service disruptions in all of our communities around services, and that we avoid a nightmare like Flint, Mich."
The tool was created through a collaboration between the auditor and University of Minnesota researchers. A $19,000 grant paid the costs of a graduate student who worked to add data and put the tool together.
Otto said she wants to expand the tool to include other information like streets and bridges. She said she's seeking about $50,000 to continue building the tool for the next year and a half.