2026 State of the Water Industry Report
The American Water Works Association (AWWA) released its 2026 State of the Water Industry Report, revealing a sector facing growing pressure across infrastructure, financing and long-term water supply reliability. The AWWA underscored the need for strategic investment, innovation and long-term planning to ensure the resilience and sustainability of the water sector.
The report outlined that the overall water sector remains healthy and stable, but the five-year outlook signaled growing concern for the future.
Aging infrastructure remains the most pressing challenge, closely followed by the need for sustainable funding and long-term water supply reliability. Water quality concerns are also intensifying, particularly around emerging contaminants such as microplastics, PFAS and pharmaceuticals.
