Broke and On Their Own: Small Water Systems Lose Ground as Federal Support Wavers

The country’s most severe drinking water problems, from high levels of contaminants and foul-smelling water to pipe breaks, low water pressure, and expensive rates, are generally found in the thousands of small systems that serve dozens of people up to a few thousand.

These systems are public health crises waiting to emerge, said Denise Schmidt, director of water at the Environmental Policy Innovation Center, a group that works with water utilities on infrastructure funding.

Though some are perpetually struggling, small water systems, especially those serving low-income communities, are encountering a fresh set of economic and political hurdles in their quest for safe drinking water.

Read more from Circle of Blue: https://www.circleofblue.org/2026/supply/water-management/infrastructure/broke-and-on-their-own-small-water-systems-lose-ground-as-federal-support-wavers/