The average age of water supply systems in Nova Scotia peaked at 19.3 years in 2004 and has dropped rapidly since then to 17.0 years in 2007. This reduction was attributable to large investments in recent years.
As a result, the share accounted for by this asset in the public infrastructure stock of the province increased from 7% in 2001 to 8% in 2007. While age has traditionally been higher than the national average for this asset, the gap has narrowed in recent years. In 2007, the provincial useful life expended for this asset was 46% compared to 40% nationally, the third highest gap after Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec.