America’s Water Challenges – Test

Inter

Water Quality is a Serious Challenge for Millions of Americans

As community drinking water systems face more stringent water quality standards and new threats from emerging contaminants like PFAS, some local governments may find themselves in need of assistance to keep their communities safe. A landmark study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2018 found that as many as 45 million Americans per year drink water that violates health-based water quality standards. Other studies have found that water quality violations disproportionately impact communities of color and rural Americans.

HOW WATER COMPANIES HELP:
Water companies provide the operations expertise and infrastructure investments necessary to provide safe drinking water. The data is clear: systems run by water companies are significantly less likely to violate federal drinking water standards compared to systems run by local governments. This fact has been confirmed by every major study of water quality ever conducted in the United States.¹

Rubik

Water Quality is a Serious Challenge for Millions of Americans

Libre-Franklin

Water Quality is a Serious Challenge for Millions of Americans

America’s Water Infrastructures is in Crisis

Every year, an estimated 240,000 water mains break in the United States, resulting in a loss of 7 billion gallons of water each day. Many of our water mains and pipes are more than 100 years old – some date as far back as the Civil War era – and are in serious need of replacement. In 2013, the American Society of Civil Engineers’ (ASCE) Report Card for America’s Infrastructure gave our nation’s water systems a “D” grade.

HOW WATER COMPANIES HELP:
Water companies provide local governments access to capital to address urgent infrastructure needs. The 10 largest water companies in the United States collectively invested $3.7 billion in community water systems in 2019. These are dollars coming from the private sector and not out of a municipal budget. In comparison, the federal government’s water infrastructure revolving fund programs invested just $2.8 billion in 2019.²

Many Americans Struggle to Afford Their Water Bills

It is no secret that water bills are increasing across the country as water systems have to play catch up on billions in deferred infrastructure repairs and upgrades. Studies show water rates have increased between 6% and 8% each year – multiple times the rate of inflation – to fund these critical investments. While a federal program exists to aid low-income Americans who are unable to pay their home energy utility bills, no such program exists for water customers.

HOW WATER COMPANIES HELP:
From flexible payment plans and deferred payment options to discounts on various charges and fees, water companies have been leaders in addressing water affordability challenges for many years. However, as water companies do their part in the communities they serve, it is undeniable that we must also address water affordability in a big way at the federal level. NAWC and its member companies have called for the creation of a federal program for basic water needs to ensure water keeps flowing to all households in America.³

America’s Water Grid is Highly Fragmented

A fundamental driver of our water quality, infrastructure needs, and affordability challenges is the severe fragmentation of our water grid. While the United States has 3,300 electric utilities, our water grid has more than 52,000 individual community water systems, many of which serve just a few hundred customers. Our fractured water grid leads to cost inefficiencies, a lack of investment capacity and operational expertise, and other issues that drive poor outcomes and higher costs for customers.

HOW WATER COMPANIES HELP:
Studies show larger systems have fewer water quality violations and lower water rates. Decreasing the number of water systems and building larger, stronger utility organizations is key to a just and more equitable water future where every American household is served high quality water that they can afford. Water companies have led successful consolidations of small systems all across the country.⁴

America’s Water Challenges – Test

Inter

Water Quality is a Serious Challenge for Millions of Americans

Rubik

Water Quality is a Serious Challenge for Millions of Americans

Libre-Franklin

Water Quality is a Serious Challenge for Millions of Americans

Water Quality is a Serious Challenge for Millions of Americans

America’s Water Infrastructures is in Crisis

Many Americans Struggle to Afford Their Water Bills

America’s Water Grid is Highly Fragmented

Why Private Proof Points

Why Work with a Water Company

Water Companies: Superior Compliance Record

Water Companies: Superior Compliance Record

Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Rates

America’s Infrastructure Crisis

Investing Today, Building for Tomorrow

Water Companies’ Increasing Investments

By the Numbers

America’s Water Companies