https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/07/220713152842.htm

The study, Improved Decision-Making: A Sociotechnical Utility-Based Framework for Drinking Water Investment, was published recently by the American Chemical Society in ES&T Engineering. Driven by underinvestment, the investment gap between needed and available funds for the nation's drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is projected to grow to $136 billion by 2039. In light of such a funding gap, state agencies and local utilities must make decisions how to invest limited available funds by prioritizing public water systems with the most to gain.

According to the research team, states need to prioritize funding projects to not only ensure compliance with the Safe Drinking Water Act -- the national drinking water regulations -- but also to maximize the public health benefit.