Building the Business Case for Sustainable Infrastructure in the Water Sector
16-June-2026
Jen Ninete, Director of Research & Engagement at ISI, will be presenting at ACE26 — the AWWA Annual Conference & Expo. This article expands on what she will be speaking about.
According to the American Water Works Association’s 2026 State of the Water Industry report, water utilities are facing a convergence of challenges that extend far beyond infrastructure renewal alone.
Aging assets, financing constraints, long-term water supply reliability, emerging contaminants, workforce pressures, cybersecurity risks, and climate-related uncertainty are all competing for attention at a time when many organizations are struggling to fully recover costs through rates and fees.
As utilities work to balance these interconnected demands, the conversation is shifting from simply delivering projects to demonstrating long-term value. The question is no longer whether sustainability should be considered in infrastructure decisions, but how organizations can systematically integrate resilience, operational performance, community outcomes, and financial stewardship into the way investments are planned and delivered.
