Everyone knows Pennsylvania's water and sewer systems are aging. Everyone knows they leak, burst and foul the quality of rivers and streams. And everyone knows they will cost a bundle to fix, especially if the repairs are of a quality to meet federal standards for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.

A recent federal report said Pennsylvania is staring at nearly $20 billion in pipeline and treatment-plant overhauls. The Allegheny County Sanitary Authority alone, with its 83 member municipalities, needs to do $3 billion in improvements.

No one argues that it shouldn't be done. The question is how to pay for it.

Alcosan's customer rates already have risen in each of the last two years. Gov. Ed Rendell said the federal government's Clean Water State Revolving Fund has been cut in half in the last three years and that President Bush's budget proposal has slashed funding for wastewater projects.

In other words, there will be no easy bailout.

That's why the governor was wise to issue an executive order last week that creates a high-level task force that will study not only funding options but also alternate measures, like conservation and water re-use, that may reduce the need for capital upgrades. The group, which will include members of his administration, the Legislature, the state Office of Consumer Advocate and local government officials, will be asked to file a report by Oct. 1.

That's the first day of the federal government's new fiscal year, a date by which Congress (we hope) has restored the water and sewer repair funds. But with or without Washington's dollars, the state will need a plan for how to afford this vast yet necessary repair job.

Now, finally, Pennsylvanians may get one.