Making every drop count: Leveraging technology to unlock water’s promise

The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act, now advancing through Congress, marks a pivotal step in modernizing America’s most overlooked yet critical public asset: its water infrastructure.

The United States, long regarded as a symbol of resilience, now faces a sobering reality: pipelines deteriorating due to decades of use, mounting cyber threats, and the relentless pressures of climate change. The new legislation is both a testament to political will and a mirror of ongoing struggles that blend economics, technology, society, and progress in equal measure.

America’s water infrastructure tells two very different stories. In many cities, advanced treatment plants and monitoring systems stand as global benchmarks for safety and reliability. The Washington State Department of Ecology’s Floodplains by Design program (the winner of the 2025 US Water Prize) is a prime example of integrating communities, tribes, farmers, conservationists, and state agencies to achieve flood protection, improved water quality, habitat restoration, and enhanced community resilience.

Yet, just beyond major metropolitan areas, aging pipes (some of which are literally made from timber) still carry drinking water to homes and schools. Deferred maintenance and underfunding have left even well-meaning local officials in a tough spot: neglect essential upgrades and risk crises like those in Flint, Michigan, or raise rates and face public backlash in communities unaccustomed to sudden change.

This uneven progress highlights the scale of investment now required nationwide. According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, America’s drinking water infrastructure needs are projected to be $625 billion over the next two decades, nearly $150 billion more than the 2018 estimates. Bluefield Research reports that total U.S. municipal capital spending on water and wastewater will surpass $515 billion by 2035, with the vast majority of this amount allocated toward upgrades and rehabilitation rather than new expansion. The need is urgent, and the stakes could not be higher.

To address this, the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act reauthorizes key programs under the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts, extending federal support for water infrastructure modernization through 2031. It directs funds toward strengthening systems against climate and cyber threats, while advancing digital transformation through the use of smart sensors, predictive maintenance, and data analytics. Administered by the EPA, these programs also prioritize small and disadvantaged communities to ensure equitable access and effective implementation. More than just a pipe replacement initiative, the Act aims to level the playing field between advanced and aging systems, with grants focused not only on physical upgrades but also on data-driven planning and source protection. By confronting the many faces of climate change (from flooding and drought to wildfires), the Act lays the groundwork for a new era of resilient, transparent, and future-ready water systems.

Across the nation, communities are already implementing this vision. Miami, threatened simultaneously by rising seas and blue sky flooding, invests millions from state coffers in resilience infrastructure, emphasizing that life can go on as before. In Alaska, one of the techniques used by the Alaska DOT to keep roads intact is freezing the permafrost, a climate adaptation that borders on science fiction (and an expensive reality).

While spending on innovation is becoming increasingly central to water resilience, local governments are being asked not only to pay but also to prove the impact of every federal dollar they receive. AI-powered planning systems are starting to take root, promising the ability to predict the value and impact of infrastructure projects. Owners of water infrastructure will soon be expected to predict the price of progress, model it, simulate it, and justify it to skeptical taxpayers.

In the digital era, water has begun to flow through pipes with the help of silicon. Many cities and towns leverage Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) and other automated tools to manage peak flows, reservoir operations, and treatment decisions.

This brings efficiency, but also exposure. In October 2024, American Water, one of the nation’s largest utilities, was forced to shut down parts of its operational technology systems after a cyberattack. While no contamination occurred, the incident underscored a growing threat: utilities are now targets for both cybercriminals and hostile actors.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency discovered ‘alarming cybersecurity vulnerabilities’ in inspections across the country. Default passwords, unpatched devices, and infrequent security training are making public utilities a soft, tempting target. The new Act reaffirms that resilience must be both cyber and physical in nature.

Against this landscape, some business wisdom for water infrastructure providers is in order:

• Prepare: Put AI-driven systems in place to track budgets, outcomes, and ensure timely as well as accurate reporting as required by the Act’s grants.
• Prioritize: Make cybersecurity a visible priority. Digital assets must be secured as diligently as the pipes themselves. This means investing in cybersecurity and training all staff (technical and non-technical) to stay up to date with the latest threats.
•  Plan: Bring in technology and engineering consultants not just to deliver compliance but to model resilience. Today’s AI-powered asset management can chart a path to improved infrastructure.

The proven expertise of technology partners, such as Aurigo, which has been trusted for decades by America’s capital infrastructure agencies and relied upon by organizations like Tampa Bay Water, will be pivotal in helping utilities deliver smarter, safer, and more accountable outcomes.

The Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act represents more than funding—it is a philosophy shift. It may be precisely what the country needs: funds with accountability and infrastructure with intelligence.

To secure that future, cities and utilities must view water not just as a resource but as the foundation of resilient growth. They need to leverage advanced analytics, digital twins, and AI for predictive planning, rapid response, and data-driven accountability.  These innovations make infrastructure more efficient and transparent, not only by meeting regulatory requirements but also by building public trust.

When leaders unite technology with stewardship, they do more than repair pipes—they rebuild trust. And that is how America will make every drop count.