Trillions of gallons leak from aging drinking water systems, further stressing shrinking US cities

PRICHARD, Ala. (AP) — Trillions of gallons are lost from aging drinking water systems across the U.S. after decades of deferred maintenance and disinvestment. Some communities struggle to provide safe and reliable service, especially in older industrial and rural areas that have seen significant population and industrial decline that leave behind poorer residents, vacant neighborhoods and too-large water systems. Some systems lose more than half of their treated drinking water before it reaches users. Yet experts say such communities often are at a disadvantage when seeking funding, resulting in a downward spiral.