AWWA Report Finds Rising Drinking Water Infrastructure Costs and Other Needs Put Affordability at Risk

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 26, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- A report released today by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) finds that addressing U.S. drinking water infrastructure and other critical needs will require $2.1-$2.4 trillion over the next 25 years, testing the limits of water affordability.

The report, Beyond the Replacement Era: Balancing Compounding Infrastructure Needs with Household Affordability, provides the most comprehensive assessment to date of the investments needed to sustain safe, reliable drinking water service through 2050.

"Drinking water infrastructure underpins the health and economic vitality of our communities, but the cost of sustaining it is rising rapidly," said AWWA President Heather Collins. "Beyond the Replacement Era makes clear that the path to a resilient and affordable water future depends on collaboration — among water utilities, policymakers, all of us — while keeping front and center the people and families who must be able to afford water without sacrificing other essential needs."

Developed in partnership with Raftelis and One Water Econ, the report's five key takeaways include:

1. The Water Sector Has Entered a New Cost Era
   Drinking water utilities are no longer facing just an asset‑replacement challenge; they are confronting a compounding set of cost drivers that include regulatory compliance, climate resilience, cybersecurity, and treating more complex sources. Over the next 25 years (2026–2050), total drinking water infrastructure needs are projected at $2.1–$2.4 trillion in 2025 dollars, far exceeding earlier estimates tied solely to buried infrastructure. These pressures signal a structural shift in the cost of providing safe drinking water, not a temporary ...

Full story available on Benzinga.com