If water emergencies like what the City of Atlanta recently faced concern you, you are not alone. A 2023 survey of water professionals called the State of the Water Industry indicated the nation’s aging water infrastructure is the second-most concerning challenge facing the sector.

But help is on the way.

Passage of the U.S. Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) made federal funding available to states and local water providers to spur on critical water projects. It is proving to be effective, as the State of the Water Industry showed that 81% of water utilities are implementing a capital improvement plan.

Improving aging water infrastructure protects public health, safeguards the environment, and allows our economy to prosper. A water system relies on the performance of its infrastructure to collect, transport, treat and distribute water. The operation and maintenance of a water distribution system includes maintenance of water quality, system management programs, and operation and maintenance of facilities.

AWWA’s Plain Talk Series says, “The nation’s water infrastructure, especially the underground pipes, is aging and in need of significant reinvestment. Like many of the roads, bridges, and other public assets on which the country relies, most of our buried water infrastructure was built 50 or more years ago, in the post-World War II era of rapid demographic change and economic growth. In some older urban areas, many water mains have been in the ground for a century or longer.

“Given its age, it comes as no surprise that a large portion of U.S. water infrastructure is approaching, or has already reached, the end of its useful life.”

Whether water emergencies are caused by infrastructure failure or Mother Nature, they are difficult to predict, but there are steps you can take now to limit your inconvenience. It’s recommended that you store enough water in new, airtight containers to sustain yourself and your family for up to two weeks. Avoid using containers that previously stored other liquids, such as milk, which could promote bacteria growth. Store these containers in a cool location and change them out every few months to keep the water fresh.