Hurricane Katrina caused an estimated $1.2 billion in damage and $163 million in lost revenue to Gulf Coast wastewater treatment systems, says a Water Environment Federation report. The study, released April 25, says repairing Louisiana’s wastewater treatment infrastructure would cost about $925 million. The estimated tab for Mississippi facilities is $231 million and for Alabama’s, $50 million.

The report, produced for WEF by Black & Veatch Corp. on a pro bono basis, shows infrastructure costs would be about evenly split between treatment facilities and collection systems. Hardest hit were administration, maintenance and chemical storage facilities and electrical and control systems.

Estimates were based on January 2006 prices and exclude future inflation.