2023 AWWA State of the Water Industry Report Now Available

Even with climate change-related challenges, aging infrastructure, threats to water supply, and other obstacles, the water community is feeling more optimistic year-over-year about the sector’s ability to overcome major issues and support and improve water systems and service.

Produced annually by the American Water Works Association (AWWA), this year’s State of the Water Industry report marks the 20th edition of the industry’s most trusted source of data. The responses continue a six-year trend of increasing optimism, rating 5 on a scale of 1 to 7 (with the exception of 2021, which was during the COVID-19 pandemic) about the water industry, now and in the future.

This year’s report offers a fresh perspective on the water industry’s most pressing challenges. With its comprehensive analysis of current trends and future projections, the State of the Water Industry report is an essential tool for water community professionals seeking to stay ahead of the curve. The report covers hot topics such as aging infrastructure, financing capital improvements, long-term supply, public value of water resources, and workforce. Plus, this year’s executive summary views the data through the lens of AWWA’s Water 2050 think tank drivers:

S Sustainability

S Technology

S Economics

S Governance

S Social Demographics

This most recent survey asked utility respondents if their utility has considered and/or implemented plans to assess risk and resilience and emergency preparedness. Overall, 88 percent of all utility respondents have fully implemented or are in the process of preparing emergency response plans, and 72 percent of all utility respondents have fully implemented or are in the process of implementing a risk and resilience assessment.

As stewards of public health and the environment, water professionals understand the importance of protecting water supplies, securing physical and cyber systems, and planning for routine and extreme events. By incorporating resilience into a risk management framework, utilities can improve their response and recovery strategies, thereby mitigating the potential for loss of service.

To download the 2023 State of the Water Industry report or request a copy go to www. awwa.org. S