A landmark new report from the American Water Works Association estimates the United States will need between $2.1 and $2.4 trillion in drinking water infrastructure investment over the next 25 years—and the funding gap is widening fast.

In this episode, the findings of Beyond The Replacement Era are explained by Mike Grimm of West Slope Water District, Heather Collins of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Janet Clements of One Water Econ, John Mastracchio of Raftelis, and Adam Carpenter of AWWA.

The report identifies a structural shift in water sector costs, with utilities now navigating compounding pressures from PFAS and lead regulations, climate resilience, cybersecurity, and increasingly scarce water sources—not just aging pipes.

Without new investment strategies, the average household water bill could more than double by 2050, potentially pushing over 53 million households into financial stress.

Federal funding for water infrastructure lags far behind other sectors like transportation, covering just 3.9 percent of public spending—a disparity the guests argue must change.

Solutions discussed include expanding federal and state partnerships, consolidating fragmented small utilities to capture economies of scale, and developing dedicated affordability assistance programs to protect vulnerable households.

Read the report.

waterloop is a nonprofit news outlet exploring solutions for water sustainability.