Americans Support More Water Infrastructure Investment, New Survey Finds
Key Highlights
- National poll finds Americans prioritize safe, reliable water systems over public-versus-private ownership debates
- More than 96% of respondents say water infrastructure investment is critical to public health and safety
- Survey highlights growing concern over aging infrastructure and long-term funding needs for water and wastewater systems
WEST ORANGE, NJ — As aging infrastructure and funding gaps continue to strain water systems nationwide, new public opinion research suggests Americans are increasingly focused on water quality, reliability and long-term investment rather than ownership structure.
A national poll of 800 registered voters conducted by EMC Research, Inc., and released by Trust in Water, found broad support for increased investment in water and wastewater infrastructure, along with growing openness to both public and private approaches that deliver reliable service and safe drinking water.
Aging Infrastructure Continues to Drive Investment Challenges
According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, communities across the country will require approximately $1.25 trillion in water and wastewater infrastructure investment over the next two decades. At the same time, an estimated 30 million Americans rely on drinking water systems currently violating federal safety standards.
The survey findings suggest voters recognize the urgency of addressing those infrastructure challenges and are less focused on who owns or operates the systems as long as performance standards are met.
“As long as systems deliver high-quality water and make the necessary investments, ownership is largely secondary,” said Brendan Kara, Vice President of Strategy, EMC Research. “This poll shows that, if we can move beyond the public versus private debate, customers are ready for the investments needed to provide them high quality water that is safe to drink.”
Voters Prioritize Water Quality, Reliability and Investment
The poll found that nearly 87% of respondents agreed with the statement that ownership structure matters less than the delivery of safe, high-quality water and wastewater service. According to the survey, that sentiment remained consistent across political affiliations, regions, racial demographics, age groups and provider types.
Support for additional investment in infrastructure was also strong. More than 66% of respondents said local water and wastewater systems require additional funding, while 96% agreed that investments in water system reliability and safety are critical to protecting public health.
The survey also identified particularly strong concern among younger men and communities of color regarding infrastructure funding needs.
Industry Conversations Shift Toward Long-Term Solutions
The findings point to increasing public willingness to support pragmatic solutions addressing infrastructure reliability, system modernization and long-term funding challenges.
Trust in Water said the results help create space for broader conversations around how communities invest in and maintain water infrastructure systems, rather than focusing solely on ownership debates.
The survey also reinforces the growing need for federal, state and local policy discussions centered on infrastructure resilience, drinking water safety and sustainable investment strategies for utilities nationwide.
To learn more visit Trust in Water at trustinh2o.com.