This week in the United States, water has dominated headlines from major policy shifts in Washington to urgent responses to extreme weather. In early April, the eastern and central states experienced severe flooding triggered by powerful storms. The U.S. Geological Survey reports that regions in Kentucky faced over fifteen inches of rain in just a few days, pushing the Kentucky and Ohio rivers to historic levels and raising concern about continuing floods as excess water moves into the Mississippi River basin. Communities are grappling with significant inundation, and recovery efforts are underway as river levels are expected to remain high in coming days, highlighting the need for greater investment in flood control and disaster resiliency.

Meanwhile, Washington, D.C. was the center of national water policy dialogue as Water Week 2025 brought more than 700 water sector professionals to Capitol Hill. Organizations such as the National Association of Clean Water Agencies, American Water Works Association, and the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies urged Congress to address critical issues including aging water infrastructure, long-term federal funding, and the reauthorization of water programs first enhanced through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Congressional leaders were pressed on emerging water contamination threats like PFAS, the so-called “forever chemicals,” as well as on fortifying water system cybersecurity and climate resilience. The call for federal action reflects the sector’s broad concern that without robust annual appropriations, efforts to provide clean and safe water to all communities could stall.

On the regulatory front, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced a fast-tracked review of new scientific findings on the health impacts of fluoride in drinking water. Administrator Lee Zeldin, alongside Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Junior, stated that this evaluation aligns with EPA’s mission to protect public health and could potentially lead to an updated federal standard for fluoride, depending on the outcomes of this review. The move is seen as a response to decades of advocacy and a commitment to sound science and transparency.

At the local level, reports from Wright State University in Ohio confirmed that special monthly water tests found lead and copper concentrations in tap water well below federal safety thresholds, assuring residents that their drinking water remains safe despite ongoing maintenance work on the city’s water treatment system.

Globally, water leaders are preparing for the Global Water Summit set to take place in Madrid, Spain later this month. The summit will focus on topics that resonate worldwide, such as water scarcity, climate change adaptation, infrastructure modernization, and financing for sustainable water management. With public and private sector leaders attending, the summit will address the integration of advanced technologies, like desalination and smart water systems, aiming to set a global agenda for water governance and secure clean water access in the face of growing environmental pressures.

From flood emergencies at home to policy debates in the nation’s capital and international collaboration abroad, recent events reveal an urgent need for innovation, investment, and cooperation to ensure resilient and equitable water systems for the future.