The 2024 State of the Water Industry survey - conducted by the American Water Works Association (AWA) - reflected a shift in water management priorities as watershed/source water protection ranked as the top issue facing the water sector, unseating uncertainties over aging infrastructure as the top issue from previous surveys.

 

AWA pointed to concerns regarding climate change and drought affecting the Colorado River Basin as well as emerging contaminates such as PFAS as reasons for this shift.

As for aging infrastructure, AWA points to technological advancements as a source of optimism, "with investments in new treatment technologies, digital solutions and green alternatives [are] anticipated to more than double in the next 1-3 years."

https://www.awwa.org/wp-content/uploads/2024-SOTWI-Executive-Summary.pdf