Limited Federal Funding = Customers as Primary Funder of Critical Water Infrastructure Investments

According to the EPA, $1.26 trillion needs to be invested in water and wastewater infrastructure over the next 20 years – or $63 billion per year – to ensure safe drinking water and to protect local waterways. With federal funding limited, this critical infrastructure is largely being funded through customer bills. Federal dollars cover just one-tenth of the total need. The EPA, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, The Brookings Institution, the Pew Charitable Research Fiscal Policy Project, and others all warn that customers end up being the primary funder of critical water infrastructure, investments contributing to affordability challenges.