Congress must recommit to America’s water infrastructure

OPINION:

Spring is here, and with it the familiar rhythms of yard work, ball games and long afternoons spent outdoors. At the end of a hot day, most Americans don’t think twice about walking inside and pouring a cold glass of water from the tap. That simple act of trust depends on an enormous network of underground pipes that have served this country for generations, and in some cases, for more than 200 years.

The promise of safe, reliable water is not a luxury; it’s a fundamental public health and safety requirement. Unfortunately, much of the infrastructure that delivers that promise has exceeded its service life, and there are too many communities that do not have access to safe and reliable drinking and wastewater systems.

Congress has a great opportunity to safeguard public health and support economic growth by strengthening its long-term commitment to the state revolving funds administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), specifically the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and the Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). There are two immediate actions that Congress can take: appropriate $3.25 billion each for the two SRF programs for FY27; and provide a robust, needs-based reauthorization of both programs. It is critical that Congress act now. As communities across the country are about to experience a water funding cliff this year, as vital supplemental SRF investments are set to expire.

I am encouraged that Congress will address these needs, as water infrastructure investments have strong bipartisan support. 92% of voters identify reliable water access as a very or extremely important issue. In my meetings on the Hill, water infrastructure investment has strong support from both parties.

Unfortunately, the scale of the challenge is substantial and growing. A recent report from the Value of Water Campaign estimates the need at a staggering $3.4 trillion over 20 years to repair and modernize our water, wastewater, and stormwater systems, plus an additional $4.3 trillion for operations and maintenance. The report also notes that the federal cost-share for water infrastructure has declined from more than half in the 1970s to about 7% today. Without sustained, robust investment, failures will become more frequent and more costly.

The SRF programs are the single largest source of federal funding for water infrastructure in the United States. For the past several fiscal years, the DWSRF has received about $1.1 billion annually, while the CWSRF has received about $1.6 billion annually. Congress provided supplemental funding for both programs totaling more than $50 billion over five fiscal years in 2021. For FY26, Congress provided more than $7 billion for drinking water and more than $4 billion for clean water, bolstered by this supplemental funding. These recent federal investments have made a difference, but they are not enough. They fall far short of the trillions in documented need, underscoring the importance of sustained, reliable funding.

A proven track record

Water infrastructure investment isn’t just about public health; it promotes economic resilience. Reliable water systems are foundational to manufacturing, energy production, healthcare and everyday commerce. Investments in water infrastructure generate significant economic returns through job creation, increased productivity, and reduced emergency repairs. The Value of Water Campaign shows that every $1 million invested in water infrastructure generates $2.5 million in economic output, 10+ jobs, $837,000 in labor income and $1.4 million in GDP. This means that 2025 funding levels support 2.2 million jobs, $307.9 billion in GDP and $588.4 billion in economic output. Additionally, in 2023 DWSRF financing saved communities $960 million over the life of a 20-year loan compared to higher market rates. Now is not the time to reduce federal water infrastructure investments and threaten this important sector of the economy.

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Investing strategically, not just investing more

For communities across the country, long-term investment is key. One-time investments, while helpful, cannot replace predictable, sustained investment. Utilities and states need long-term certainty to plan and execute large-scale projects efficiently. Passing robust reauthorization of the SRF programs and substantially increasing annual appropriations will allow communities to address challenges proactively rather than react to crises after they occur.

Funding alone is not enough. When communities invest in resilient infrastructure built with proven materials, they reduce future funding pressures and protect ratepayers from the cycle of premature failure and emergency repair that plagues systems built with cheaper materials with a shorter lifespan. Ductile iron pipe is engineered to perform for more than 100 years and is manufactured from a minimum average of 90% recycled material. I am proud that we have 558 water utility members across the U.S. where iron pipe has provided reliable drinking water service for 100-plus years; 29 for 150-plus years; and several cities still use pipes that are 200 years old or more. It’s a smart investment that stretches every dollar further throughout the pipe’s life cycle.

Congress should also continue its long tradition of material-neutral infrastructure bills and not dictate how communities design their water systems. Local engineers and water professionals should be the ones selecting the materials that will serve their communities for generations — not politicians in Washington. Our water systems are best served when Congress provides sustained, reliable investment and trusts the professionals who know their communities best to use that investment wisely.

The stakes are clear. Safe, reliable water is not optional, and the cost of inaction continues to rise. Congress has a proven investment mechanism in the SRF programs. Now it should fully fund and strengthen them. A sustained national commitment to water infrastructure is not just sound policy; it’s a public health and economic imperative, which invests in the infrastructure our children and grandchildren will depend on for generations to come.

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• David Cole is president of the Ductile Iron Pipe Research Association (DIPRA).