AWWA’s annual State of the Water Industry (SOTWI) survey provides an industry-wide self-assessment. The survey is designed to identify water sector challenges and investigates possible underlying causes and drivers. This year marks the 20th edition of the SOTWI survey, and responses continue the general six-year trend of increasing optimism (5.0 on a scale of 1 to 7) about the water industry, now and in the future. See full report here

The top 10 issues facing the water sector remain similar to past surveys, with infrastructure rehabilitation and replacement topping the list of issues. Finding the money for infrastructure rehabilitation and replacement and long-term drinking water supply availability round out the top three issues.  Of large-scale phenomena, respondents identified supply chain challenges as having the greatest negative impact on the sector, followed by inflation, recession, and pollution. Nine out of 10 respondents reported experiencing supply chain delays for equipment, materials, chemicals, or supplies in 2022.