U.S. Water Infrastructure Funding and Business Risks Survey

2023

Download the surveyDownload the EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Connecting businesses and water infrastructure

Introducing the American Business Water Coalition

Every business in every community in America is at risk.

Without a dramatic increase in federal investment, the future looks increasingly bleak. Service disruptions will cost businesses an estimated $116 billion per year and more than $625 billion per year in business sales will be lost by 2029.

$51 billion economic loss for just 11 water-reliant industries in 2019.

Every business is dependent on our nation’s water infrastructure, and underinvestment is costing American businesses every day.

In many industries, even temporary disruptions in water service can have major impacts, often causing production to grind to a complete halt. In fact, this is already occurring – water service disruptions resulted in a $51 billion economic loss for just 11 water-reliant industries (healthcare, construction, manufacturing, retail, education and more) in 2019.

High profile crises in Jackson, Mississippi and Flint, Michigan have shown the serious consequences of underinvestment in water infrastructure, and these cities aren’t alone. In the summer of 2022, more than 130,000 people and businesses in metro-Detroit were placed under a boil water advisory for three weeks because of a water main break. About a week later, the same thing happened in Jacksonville, Florida, affecting 19,000 people and businesses. Also in 2022, a 140-year-old water main snapped in Newark, New Jersey, causing not only a boil water advisory for businesses in the city but also a sinkhole that swallowed a car. In 2021, more than half of Texas went without water after a winter storm passed through the state, and almost 1.5 million people and businesses were still without water a week later.

The water infrastructure investment challenge.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) invested $55 billion in our nation’s water infrastructure, the largest single investment in history. However, this investment is not enough to bring our nation’s water systems into a state of good repair – the American Water Works Association estimates that restoring existing water systems and expanding them to serve a growing population will cost at least $1 trillion over the next 25 years, and this does not take into account emerging challenges like increasing drought in the west; floods in the East, Midwest and South; and new contaminants like PFAS.

Further, Congress is not even close to funding water infrastructure programs at their fully authorized levels. Roughly $20 billion in investments in water infrastructure were authorized but not appropriated in IIJA alone.

This funding shortfall is putting water utilities, as well as the companies and communities they serve, in a bind. In fact, only about 17% of utilities are confident that they can adequately maintain their systems, let alone upgrade them to prepare for emerging risks, without increased outside investment.

$55 billion

in our nation’s water infrastructure, the largest single investment in history

$1 trillion

cost over the next 25 years

83%

of utilities are not confident that they can adequately maintain their systems

Massive opportunity

On the other hand, adequate investment in water infrastructure would cause U.S. GDP to grow by $4.5 trillion over 20 years and create 800,000 new jobs.

The business community must engage in the fight for increased federal investment in water infrastructure. Engagement is a win-win proposition: the water sector will benefit from a strong business voice highlighting the economic opportunities, and businesses will be supported with the certainty that they can rely on their local water infrastructure.

$4.5 trillion over 20 years creates 800,000 new jobs

Members

Advisory Council

From the newsroom

American Business Water Coalition calls on Congress to prioritize water and avoid funding cliff

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New Report Exposes Alarming Economic Impacts on DC Region if Faced With Water Supply Disruption

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American Business Water Coalition favors Senate’s funding proposal but urges Congress to increase water funding

The American Business Water Coalition (ABWC) applauds the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for maintaining funding for the Environmental Protection Agencies' (EPA) Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRFs), but stresses need for increased investment.

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American Business Water Coalition calls on Congress to oppose the House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill

The American Business Water Coalition (ABWC) urges members to vote NO on the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) House Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill on the floor this week.

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Senate Approved Topline Numbers for the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill

The Senate has approved topline numbers for FY25 which includes an overall cut to its Interior-Environment bill by approximately $8.5 billion compared to the previous fiscal year. The House of Representatives advanced its Interior-Environment bill out of committee, including a reduction of over $600 million in funding for the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (SRF) Programs.

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The American Business Water Coalition urges the House not to adopt the topline funding levels and subcommittee allocations

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The American Business Water Coalition Applauds Congress’ Final Interior-Environment Appropriations Bill with Maintained Federal Investment in Water Infrastructure

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Connecticut water infrastructure and business risks report

Federal spending bill threatens 44 water infrastructure projects supporting jobs and economic development.

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ABWC Report: 10 Extreme Water Disasters in 10 Days

ABWC Report: 10 Extreme Water Disasters in 10 Days Strain Economies Across the Nation and Expose Critical Federal Funding Gap for Water Infrastructure

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American Business Water Coalition Applauds Congressional Agreement on Increased Spending Levels and Urges Deal to Safeguard Water Infrastructure Funding

On Sunday, January 7, congressional leadership announced a deal to increase topline fiscal year 2024 spending levels which would be a dramatic improvement over the House-passed water appropriations bill.

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The American Business Water Coalition is a group of water-reliant businesses—from manufacturing to energy to tech and beyond. The coalition provides a platform for businesses across the country to urge Congress and the Administration to increase investment in water infrastructure, and foster relationships between businesses and their local utilities.
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