America’s water utilities are being asked to do more with older systems, tighter budgets, and rising industrial demand.
Black & Veatch’s 2026 Water Report, based on input from more than 600 U.S. water stakeholders, shows a sector under pressure and looking for practical ways to keep projects moving, says Donnie Ginn.
Key findings include:
➡️ Aging infrastructure remains the top concern, with 66% citing it as the industry’s leading challenge.
➡️ Funding is not keeping up, with 45% saying available money will not be enough to meet capital needs over the next five to 10 years.
➡️ Regulations are shaping investment decisions, as utilities weigh compliance requirements alongside replacement, treatment, and growth needs.
➡️ Industrial water demand is rising, especially from data centers and advanced manufacturing, while utility confidence in serving large industrial customers has dropped sharply.
➡️ Utilities have plenty of data, but not enough usable insight. Ginn says only about 20% are using collected data effectively.
➡️ Collaborative delivery is gaining ground, helping utilities move projects faster, reduce uncertainty, and address risk earlier in the project cycle.
The report points to a clear reality: the future of water infrastructure will depend not only on more investment, but on smarter data use, faster project delivery, and better planning for the demands already arriving.
Learn more from the Black & Veatch 2026 Water Report at https://bit.ly/BVreport2026
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