Environment Policy Brief #185 | Haley Gabrielle Lloyd | December 4, 2025
Policy
The official Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report states that about 240,000 water main breaks occur each year in the United States. This highlights the urgent state of the nation’s water infrastructure. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., introduced the Water Infrastructure Resilience and Sustainability Act (H.R. 5566) on Sept. 26, 2025. Rep. Carbajal, introduced the bill to modernize the aging water systems across the nation.The bill seeks to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act.
The bill would reauthorize and expand programs to strengthen water infrastructure. Oversight would come from the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill’s goal is to help communities improve drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. The legislation aims to protect water systems from the impacts of climate change, natural disasters, and other risks. Federal funding would help local governments maintain safe, reliable water systems.
The risks of not passing this legislation are growing. U.S. water infrastructure is aging and not built for current climate challenges. More frequent droughts, flooding, and contamination threaten both cities and rural areas. Without urgent federal funding, widespread service failures, unsafe drinking water, and soaring emergency expenses are inevitable.
The Trump administration reduced federal involvement in environmental protection, increasing water system risks. EPA cuts weakened oversight by reducing staff and limiting enforcement of clean-water standards. Rollbacks to water protections have restricted the tools available to states and local governments. Environmental studies show that climate change poses substantial risks to these systems. As federal support declines, communities face growing climate pressures with fewer resources.
Passing H.R. 5566 is needed to maintain national water protection standards as climate risks escalate and federal support decreases. Surprisingly enough, the bill has 6 sponsors, 5 of which are Republicans and a single Democrat. This bill has gained support with national water and environmental organizations. With Republicans holding the House majority, H.R. 5566 faces a shocking path to victory if more GOP members join. Many water and environmental groups note that bipartisan water-infrastructure bills do well when they are framed as natural disaster prevention, clean water initiatives and ways to protect rural communities.
Analysis
Opponents of H.R. 5566 argue that federal involvement in water should not replace state and local control, and some resist expanding the EPA’s role. These arguments reflect limited-government views despite rising climate risks.
Supporters say state and local governments cannot meet these challenges without reliable federal help. Most have limited budgets and need support to upgrade systems to safe standards. In the Mississippi Delta, small towns depend on federal funds to repair outdated water systems they cannot afford to repair on their own. For example, in Holly Springs, Mississippi, the city used federal funds to repair broken lines and damaged pumps after several interruptions left residents with boil-water notices and low pressure. Nearby in Clarksdale, Miss., the Delta Regional Authority used federal funds to upgrade systems, improve water treatment, and reduce contamination risks. Without federal assistance, officials said, these improvements would not be possible. Groups including the American Public Works Association, American Rivers, the American Water Works Association, and the U.S. Water Alliance has supported H.R. 5566 for these reasons. Examples like these show that both rural and urban areas have interest in this bill. This gives this bill a better chance of being bipartisan and broader with support.
Without strong federal support, many water systems will not keep up with the impacts of climate change. Drought reduces supplies, storms cause flooding, and sewage overflows raise contamination risks. These can cause public-health issues and strain hospitals and emergency services. The CDC estimates that 1 million to 7 million waterborne disease cases occur each year. Improved systems could help prevent health emergencies. Vulnerable communities face greater risks, especially low-income and rural areas that need federal funding for upgrades.Due to the fact that historically Republican-leaning rural areas will be impacted negatively failing at the worst outcome of (H.R. 5566) not passing, there is a chance we may get a vote on this. On Dec. 1, 2025 the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment.
Conclusion
The future of water systems depends on whether Congress chooses to maintain a federal role in water infrastructure or continue rolling back environmental protections and oversight. H.R. 5566 would not reverse broad rollbacks but would provide state and local governments with support to manage water systems amid a climate crisis. It would help reduce inequities and better prepare communities for water challenges and public-health threats.
Resources
- https://dra.gov/delta-regional-authority-invests-over-1-5-million-to-address-infrastructure-needs-in-13-communities Delta Regional Authority announcement on more than $1.5 million invested in rural water infrastructure projects across 13 Communities.
- https://www.govern1.com/US/Holly-Springs/117674288828820/City-of-Holly-Springs-Utility-Department Information from the City of Holly Springs Utility Department documenting local water-system needs and upgrades.
- https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/5566 Official Congress.gov page for H.R. 5566