Erick Burgueño Salas
Research expert covering climate change and the water industry
Water industry in the U.S. - statistics & facts
The average American is among the biggest water users in the world; every year, the U.S. withdraws 1,200 cubic meters of water per person, the equivalent of half an Olympic pool. While access to drinking water and sanitation are almost universal, the U.S. water sector still has many challenges ahead, from underfunding and an ageing infrastructure to pollution and growing climate change impacts.
When it comes to wastewater treatment, the share of the population in the U.S. with access to this service is also high. Around 98 percent of wastewater flow generated by households in the U.S. was safely treated in 2022. That year, over 17,000 publicly owned treatment works were in operation across the country, of which approximately 37.5 percent had an advanced treatment.
In addition to the aging infrastructure, water utilities will be affected by stronger and more frequent weather extremes related to climate change. Stakeholders in the industry agree that changing precipitation patterns and droughts are the most concerning impacts of climate change on the sector.
Regardless of the high rates of access to proper sanitation and safe drinking water, the U.S. water industry still has many hurdles to overcome in the coming years.
Access to drinking water and sanitation
As of 2022, almost 330 million people had access to safely managed drinking water services in the U.S., representing 97.5 percent of the population. This makes the U.S. one of the countries with the best drinking water access in the world. Nonetheless, many Americans are concerned about the quality of the water coming out of their taps. According to a 2024 survey, 56 percent of respondents stated that they worried a great deal about the pollution of drinking water, with another 26 percent concerned a fair amount. This concern is driving decisions when it comes to tap water consumption; around 35 percent of Americans in 2024 never drinked water from their faucets.When it comes to wastewater treatment, the share of the population in the U.S. with access to this service is also high. Around 98 percent of wastewater flow generated by households in the U.S. was safely treated in 2022. That year, over 17,000 publicly owned treatment works were in operation across the country, of which approximately 37.5 percent had an advanced treatment.
A challenging future
According to industry experts and stakeholders, the main challenging issue in the U.S. water industry is the aging infrastructure. In the coming decades, the water sector will need an important boost in capital investment to renovate wells, pipelines, treatment plants, and storage facilities. Around 625 billion U.S. dollars in capital investments were required for drinking water projects existing as of 2021 and expected to occur before 2041, of which two-thirds were needed for the distribution and transmission network. During that same period, the wastewater segment will also require capital investment of some 630 billion U.S. dollars, with stormwater management the category having the highest financial needs.In addition to the aging infrastructure, water utilities will be affected by stronger and more frequent weather extremes related to climate change. Stakeholders in the industry agree that changing precipitation patterns and droughts are the most concerning impacts of climate change on the sector.
Regardless of the high rates of access to proper sanitation and safe drinking water, the U.S. water industry still has many hurdles to overcome in the coming years.
