09/09/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/09/2024 15:51
PHILADELPHIA - During the 2024 Water Summit, where industry leaders and stakeholders gathered to discuss advancements and strategies for the future of water services, the National Association of Water Companies (NAWC) announced a landmark achievement in water infrastructure investment.
NAWC's 15 largest member companies are collectively investing nearly $5.5 billion annually to improve water quality and reliability across the United States. The 2023 investment number is an increase of nearly half a billion dollars from the prior year and represents more than half of what the federal government invested in our nation's water infrastructure as a part of the historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in FY2023.
"The state of our nation's water infrastructure is concerning. Fortunately, our members - regulated, private water companies are investing nearly $5.5 billion annually nationwide to replace aging or leaky pipes, remove customers' lead lines, and upgrade water treatment plants to prevent raw sewage from leaking into our waterways. These investments help modernize the nation's critical water and wastewater infrastructure and provide safe, quality water and reliable service for generations to come," said NAWC President and CEO Robert F. Powelson.
This substantial investment is a testament to the commitment of the regulated, private water sector to address the nation's pressing water infrastructure needs. These funds are sourced from the regulated sector, not local governments' budgets, reinforcing NAWC member companies' dedication to enhancing and modernizing critical water infrastructure.