By Rahkia Nance
More than 700 water sector professionals representing national associations and wastewater and drinking water utilities from across the country will visit Congressional office visits this week as part of the annual National Water Policy Fly-In during Water Week.
Adam Krantz, CEO of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies said: “Water Week is a key time for the public clean water utility sector to bring our message to Washington, DC, and remind policymakers of the critical work we do – and the challenges and opportunities we face. Clean water is and should continue to be a core federal priority. Public clean water utilities are vital institutions to their communities and the Nation, and we need Congress to support these services that are essential to the economy, jobs, the environment and public health.
“We look forward to meeting with Members of Congress to advocate for our priorities.”
A joint effort of the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), the American Water Works Association (AWWA), the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA), The Water Research Foundation (WRF), the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the WateReuse Association, the 2025 Fly-In is celebrating record attendance and calling on Congress to address a number of growing challenges facing the water sector, including:
- Aging infrastructure. Federal funding and financing are vital for utilities to advance infrastructure projects. However, future funding levels are uncertain and many key program authorizations will expire after Fiscal Year 2026. Congress must reauthorize key drinking water and wastewater funding programs made possible through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and prioritize robust annual appropriations for these programs to advance investment in water across the country and ensure everyone has access to clean, safe water.
- Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS). The costs of managing PFAS contamination in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act and Clean Water Act are enormous and will significantly impact ratepayers. Drinking water utilities face annual costs of as much as $7.5 billion to comply with EPA’s new drinking water standards for PFAS. Clean water utilities are also facing significant operational cost increases. The sector calls on Congress to prioritize source control measures that will reduce the amount of PFAS entering water systems and the environment and enact regulations that hold polluters—not local water utilities—financially responsible for cleanup costs.
- Affordability. Water and wastewater costs in many communities outpace inflation and income growth, putting disproportionate pressure on low-income households. On average, 20 percent of US households owe money to their water utility, and as many as 19 million households are challenged by unaffordable water costs. The water sector is pushing for Congress to establish a permanent low-income water assistance program to help utilities modernize infrastructure while maintaining affordable rates.
Water Week’s anchor event, the National Water Policy Fly-In, is jointly presented by the six host organizations and is also supported by 15 partner organizations across the water and environmental sectors. The event will feature speakers from various federal agencies and Members of Congress discussing current water priorities.
David LaFrance, CEO of the American Water Works Association said: “Every day, water utilities are on the frontlines, delivering safe, clean water to millions across the nation. We join our Water Week partners to advocate for policies that support the critical work of managing water. As we go to Capitol Hill, we drive home a clear message to Congress: Water matters. We need action on infrastructure funding, PFAS liability protection, and affordability.
“These are not just water issues, they are public health imperatives, and AWWA is committed to working with Congress to forge practical solutions that protect both the water we drink and the communities we serve.”
Rahkia Nance is NACWA Director of Communications.