Professor Bryan Karney, in a story prepared by CBC News, warns that failing to invest in water infrastructure can lead to higher costs in the long term.

“The reason why water pipes leak is really not a simplistic argument that people haven’t been paying attention. We’ve been saying that for years,” Professor Karney told CBC. “We keep patching systems and hoping somehow the problem will go away. It doesn’t. It just gets worse.”

Professor Karney’s remarks were featured in a story on the cost of water leaks, which cost Ontario 25% of its drinking water — equal to a loss of $700 million a year — according to a 2009 report. Professor Karney is a Civil Engineering Professor and Associate Dean, Cross-Disciplinary Programs.

You can read the full story on CBC’s website.