Mary Scott Nabers
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America’s water infrastructure reckoning has arrived
For too long, America’s water infrastructure has not received the prudent attention. Perhaps that is because, although it is one of America’s most essential public assets, this typ…
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America’s aging water systems trigger a surge in billion-dollar fixes
Investments in wastewater and water treatment infrastructure across the United States are accelerating at an unprecedented pace. Federal data from the EPA indicates that more than $630 billion in water infrastructure improvements will be needed over the next two decades, with wastewater systems accounting for a significant share of that total. Much of this demand is driven by aging facilities, many of which were […]
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Large-scale utility projects reflect rising compliance and growth demands
Public officials throughout America are advancing critical infrastructure investments related to utilities and the planning documents indicate that projects scheduled to launch soon will shape the reliability, safety, and resilience of essential services for decades to come. From water and wastewater systems to electric generation and distribution assets, communities are confronting aging infrastructure, regulatory pressures, and accelerating growth with bold capital improvement programs. For […]
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Billions of dollars in play as communities tackle aging water infrastructure
America’s water and wastewater infrastructure is entering a period of reinvestment, and because of that, opportunities for collaboration between private sector firms and public entities will be abundant in 2026. Decades-old treatment plants, pump stations, and collection systems are being pushed beyond their original design lives by population growth, tighter environmental regulations, and volatile weather patterns. Public officials are moving to protect and upgrade […]
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Resilience projects move from planning to priority as climate risks escalate
Across the United States, weather-driven disruption is no longer an episodic challenge but a persistent condition reshaping public investment priorities. Intensifying rainfall, rising seas, prolonged heat, and expanding wildfire zones are placing unprecedented strain on aging infrastructure systems that were never designed for today’s climate realities. Federal data shows that billion-dollar weather disasters now occur […]
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The next infrastructure wave isn’t roads, it’s treatment plants
America’s wastewater infrastructure is suddenly having a very visible moment, and the numbers explain why. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) latest Clean Watersheds Needs Survey places the estimated amount of funding needed for clean water infrastructure improvements over the next two decades is $630.1 billion, and some of the needs are immediate. This critical […]
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The Final Mile – the U.S. simply must rush to finish its critical lead pipe cleanup!
An estimated 9.2 million lead service lines currently deliver drinking water to homes, businesses, schools, and unsuspecting citizens throughout the U.S. Lead water lines pose an extremely high public safety issue. This has been a known fact for many years, and concern was raised again recently when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released data […]
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America confronts urgent water infrastructure needs
The focus on water is extreme in almost every state in America. That’s because there are dozens of water infrastructure projects that simply must be addressed. The most critical issues tend to be water resources, aging water treatment plants, flood control, aging dam structures and leaking water pipelines. These types of projects are usually expensive, […]
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United States water quality projects present plentiful contracting opportunities in 2025
Water projects are likely to offer some of the most significant infrastructure contracting opportunities in 2025. While funding is still available at the federal level, public officials are rushing to upgrade water infrastructure. The expectation is that the incoming Trump administration will allocate additional funding for water infrastructure projects as well, given the critical needs […]
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A multi-billion-dollar water industry segment not to be overlooked
Water resources are a critical component of any region’s ecosystems. But, perhaps even more important is the realization that water is also essential for human survival. Its needs cannot be ignored. In 2023, the U.S. market for only drinking water treatment and wastewater systems was estimated to be $4.93 billion. This revelation also revealed that […]
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New water quality standards will result in billions being spent to remediate PFAS contamination
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a long-awaited report on water quality standards outlining the maximum contaminant levels for per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contaminants in drinking water. This marks the first time national standards for a new contaminant have been added to the Safe Drinking Water Act since 1996. It represents, without doubt, […]
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New funding for water and wastewater projects in less populated parts of the U.S.
The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced an $800 million allotment for rural infrastructure projects. Although the funding may seem insignificant, it will greatly increase the number of new projects launched in 2024. It is also important to note that the federal funding, in almost every case, will be supplemented by other state or […]
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Protecting America’s water infrastructure – now a national priority with an abundance of funding
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rang in 2023 with a new program designed to provide funding for critical water infrastructure projects. Now, the EPA is providing loans to state financing authorities which are also known as state revolving fund programs. This new program was named after the law Congress passed to create it. It […]
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No funding issues for water infrastructure projects – options are more abundant than ever!
In September, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the availability of $6.5 billion for Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loans. The funding is intended to incentivize private sector funding and the plan is to deliver a combined $13 billion in water infrastructure projects. The funding can be combined with revenue from a […]
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Drive to replace lead pipes leads to many contracting opportunities
We rarely stop to consider how difficult it is to be a government leader. The responsibility to identify critical needs, focus on eminent dangers, ensure public safety, and provide citizen services are monumental tasks. Consider this: An estimated 400,000 schools and child-care facilities as well as millions of homes rely on water from toxic lead […]
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Funding is slow but always available for disaster recovery projects
Looking for a diverse and lucrative public-sector marketplace? If so, don’t overlook upcoming opportunities related to natural disaster recovery in regions that were ravaged by floods, fires, and other weather-related disasters. Demand for private-sector firms to provide services in these regions is extremely high. The U.S. led the world in catastrophes in 2018, and the […]
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