Providing Solutions to America’s Aging Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

Water is the world’s most vital resource. It helps keeps life flowing all around us – from brushing your teeth, showering or making your morning cup of coffee, to the manufacturing of almost every product you use and interact with daily. Now more than ever, consumers are relying on reliable, quality drinking water and reliable wastewater systems. During Infrastructure Week, we're highlighting the need and our solution to our nation's most pressing infrastructure needs. 

In 2021, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) graded the state of the nation’s drinking water infrastructure a C- and wastewater infrastructure a D+.  These grades underscore a trend of underinvestment in drinking water and wastewater infrastructure across the country. Our nation’s water systems that were installed in the mid-1900s have exceeded their useful life and need to be improved or replaced to be able to continue providing safe, reliable, clean supply of water and effective wastewater service now for generations to come.

 

Providing solutions to our nation’s most pressing infrastructure needs

At American Water, we work hard to deliver safe, clean, reliable and affordable water and wastewater service to our customers, because they deserve nothing less.​  We plan to invest $34 – $38 billion into our systems over the next 10 years, which will enable us to continue to provide vital services to our water and wastewater customers.​  Our investments include replacing aging pipes and upgrading existing or constructing new treatment, storage, and pumping facilities to expand capacity, comply with the latest water quality standards and enhance the resiliency of our systems.

 

Help protect and preserve water and wastewater infrastructure

 

As a customer, you can help protect our critical water and wastewater infrastructure through simple measures like rethinking what you put down your drains and flush down your toilets. By not pouring fats, oils and grease down the drain, or flushing wipes, paper towels and other items, even though some claim they’re flushable (they’re not), you can help prevent pipe clogs, sewer overflows and damage to our infrastructure. Try to be mindful of how much water you use. Limiting any unnecessary water usage lowers system demands as well as your water bill.

Every day, American Water remains committed to investing in and effectively addressing America’s water and wastewater infrastructure challenges, but we can’t do it alone. We are proud to work with communities, regulators, elected officials and key stakeholders to create a better tomorrow for the customers and communities we serve.

Learn more about American Water's state subsidiaries' most recent ASCE Infrastructure Report Cards to date:

• 2023 Iowa: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/iowa/
• 2022 Illinois: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/Illinois/
• 2022 Pennsylvania: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/pennsylvania/
• 2022 Tennessee: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/tennessee/
• 2022 Virginia: https://infrastructurereportcard.org/state-item/virginia/

 

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