Subodha Kumar: As we fund Pennsylvania, let’s make sure water is not left behind

The recent Blizzard of ‘26 packed a punch in Philadelphia and across the Delaware Valley. Aside from school closures and runs on milk and eggs, among the lasting impacts will be a blow to our already crumbling infrastructure. A consequence of endless snowplow routes, salt spread on our highways, and temperatures constantly fluctuating above and below freezing are more potholes and bridges in further disrepair.

That’s why I was glad to see Governor Josh Shapiro make a point to prioritize investments in infrastructure in his recently announced state budget proposal. But as important as it is to fix our roads and bridges, I want to be certain this new fund is also investing in what are arguably our most important infrastructure assets – the water treatment plants and distribution pipelines that provide us with safe and reliable drinking water. These are assets that sustain life and economic prosperity yet are too often neglected.  

Dubbed the new Pennsylvania Program for Critical Infrastructure Investment, this $1 billion initiative is designed to spur massive economic growth and strengthen communities throughout our state by supporting large infrastructure projects. 

I applaud Governor Shapiro for moving forward with this program. Our communities are only as strong as the infrastructure that supports them, whether it’s roads and bridges or airports and municipal buildings. Through this effort, the Governor continues to demonstrate his administration’s commitment to strengthening that foundation.

However, I do urge Governor Shapiro and leaders across the state to prioritize our water and sewer systems.

When the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) released its 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, our nation’s drinking water infrastructure received a C-, and the nation’s wastewater infrastructure received a D+. Hardly a glowing report card!

Our water infrastructure is aging, and across the country, systems are struggling to adequately serve communities that rely on them. We’re all too familiar with the tragic consequences of neglected water systems in places like Flint, Michigan, and Jackson, Mississippi, where water crises resulted in serious public health concerns. This reality is unacceptable, and we have seen firsthand the dire results of aging, underdeveloped water infrastructure right here in Pennsylvania. 

In the most recent ASCE Report Card for Pennsylvania specifically, drinking water received a D grade, and wastewater received a D-, both below the national average. 

In private wells across Pennsylvania, we’ve traced frighteningly high levels of PFAS, dangerous forever chemicals, in drinking water. Other Pennsylvania residents have seen extensive damage to their property due to aging wells and pipes that, are at times, left in disrepair in homes and communities for generations. 

Fortunately, in recent years, Governor Shapiro, legislators in Harrisburg, and public and private utilities have come together to support our state’s water infrastructure. 

Investments in water infrastructure through PENNVEST have had transformative impacts in communities statewide. 

In the Administration’s first PENNVEST announcement of 2026, significant investments are being made, to name just a few: 

• The City of Philadelphia secured a $149.1 million loan to upgrade the aeration system at its Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant. The project will replace aging blowers, valves, diffusers, and electrical systems, while making structural concrete repairs and safety improvements.
• Pennsylvania American Water received $6.1 million in grants and loan funding to support critical water infrastructure improvement work in Berks and Cumberland counties. Projects funded include lead service line replacements and extensive efforts to improve wastewater system collection systems. 
• Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. received a $2.26 million grant and a $4.5 million loan to install PFAS treatment systems at its Hunt, Oreland, and Flourtown wells. These improvements will remove PFAS and reduce iron and manganese levels, strengthening drinking water quality and system reliability.

These are unquestionable successes and a strong start to 2026, but if the current condition of wastewater and water infrastructure tells us anything, we know that the stakes remain high, as too many systems are vulnerable to failure. 

We cannot slow the momentum. It is critical that Governor Shapiro and state leaders continue investing in water and wastewater infrastructure to improve the quality of life today and support resilience in Pennsylvania communities for the next generation. A new $1 billion pot of infrastructure dollars would be a good place to start. 

Subodha Kumar is a distinguished professor at Temple University’s Fox School of Business.