Two Congressional committees convened last week to examine the future of drinking water infrastructure and federal water policy. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on the Environment and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment both focused on the condition of the U.S. water systems as the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) undergoes review and Congress considers the next Water Resources Development Act (WRDA).
Across both hearings, lawmakers cited EPA’s estimate that $625 billion will be needed over the next twenty years to maintain and upgrade drinking water infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers’ C- grade for drinking water systems further underscored the widening gap between current investment levels and long-term system resilience.
Small and rural systems were central to the discussion. Witnesses emphasized that 91% of community water systems serve10,000 or fewer people, yet must meet the same federal requirements as the largest utilities. Workforce capacity is also tightening, with projections that up to 50% of water system operators may retire within the next decade. Members questioned whether current funding mechanisms and regulatory timelines adequately reflect these operational realities.
The hearings reflect a broader inflection point in national water policy. Protecting public health is non-negotiable, but long-term success depends on regulatory frameworks grounded in sound science, adaptive management, institutional capacity, and sustainable financing. Modernization must address not only contaminants, but governance, workforce development, resilience, and the practical challenges faced by systems of all sizes.
These themes are explored in greater depth in Safe Drinking Water Act: The Next Fifty Years, a newly released book authored and edited by members of the Water & Health Advisory Council. The book examines how SDWA can evolve to meet emerging risks while ensuring affordability, reliability, and public trust for the next half century.
We encourage policymakers, water professionals, and stakeholders to download the open-access book and engage with its recommendations as Congress considers the future of federal drinking water policy. The book can be downloaded here.
Watch the full Energy and Commerce hearing here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vsz4CQ0UVQ
Watch the full Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vkXY5xqriTI