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The Need

Across the U.S., there is a one trillion dollar funding gap in water infrastructure to keep up with anticipated population growth. 

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen the effects of poor water infrastructure management exacerbated, leading to $14 billion in annual financial impacts to the nation’s drinking water systems.

The Challenge

Three overarching challenges prevent a strong water infrastructure pipeline in the U.S. water sector, particularly in small and mid-sized communities:

  • Funds are not being directed into the water sector at scale;
  • An inability of existing organizations and groups to pull together financial deals; and,
  • Lack of catalytic instruments to mitigate risk.

The Opportunity

Supporting Small &
Mid-Sizes Communities

Small and mid-sized utilities (SMUs), serve <100,000 people and make-up around 75% of domestic water utilities. Many of these communities, including larger, urban and peri-urban, are left behind by current water infrastructure funding.

Building Trust & Reducing
Fragmentation

Progress is stymied by a lack of trust and fragmentation of authorities and resources, leading to an exaggerated sense of risk by outside investors.

Bridging Public & Private
Funding with Philanthropy

Philanthropy can help bring new capital into the sector by building out a pipeline of fundable deals and helping to manage risk.

200+

year old wooden water pipes still serve some U.S. cities as their main source of water

650

water mains break per day in the U.S.

2 trillion

gallons of drinking water per day are wasted due to broken infrastructure

63 million

Americans are exposed to unsafe drinking water

40%

of U.S. waters do not meet water quality standards

$2.6 billion

per year in lost water and wasted energy

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