HISTORICALLY, the evolution of drinking water and wastewater management has shifted towards a centralized scheme because of urbanization and the concentration of pollutants. Centralization became the norm and the public perception that followed deemed centralized management as superior. The push for centralized infrastructure through the 1900s and the lack of maintenance thereafter has led to the current state of degrading and dated infrastructure. This has become too much of a financial burden for budget-strapped communities and detrimental to environmental and human health. If we are to adapt in a sustainable fashion, we need a change in perspective.
