Billions Of Dollars In Play As Communities Tackle Aging Water Infrastructure
America’s water and wastewater infrastructure is entering a period of reinvestment, and because of that, opportunities for collaboration between private sector firms and public entities will be abundant in 2026. Decades-old treatment plants, pump stations, and collection systems are being pushed beyond their original design lives by population growth, tighter environmental regulations, and volatile weather patterns. Public officials are moving to protect and upgrade the nation’s critical water infrastructure, and demand for experienced partners will be high demand for the next several years.
Fortunately, public agencies have access to a broad mix of federal, state, private sector, and local funding sources. Bipartisan infrastructure funding is still available, state legislatures are allocating funding, regional partnerships are converging to accelerate projects that had previously been delayed or scaled back, and private sector investors are available.
The result is a growing pipeline of large, technically complex water projects that emphasize resiliency, regulatory compliance, and long-term operational efficiency. Many of these investments focus on core process upgrades, advanced treatment technologies, and phased delivery strategies that allow utilities to modernize facilities while maintaining continuous service. From mid-sized communities replacing outdated plants to major metropolitan regions pursuing drought-resilient water supplies, these projects illustrate how utilities are responding to both immediate needs and long-term planning challenges.
A $78 million rehabilitation project for a water resource facility will launch soon in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The modernization work will focus on the city’s primary wastewater treatment plant, and the objective is to restore and upgrade a critical piece of local infrastructure.
Phase 1 will focus on core process systems that directly affect treatment capacity, reliability, and regulatory compliance. Planned work also includes expansion of the facility headworks, increasing the capacity of influent pumping through a new pumping station, and rehabilitation of biological nutrient removal basins with a new diffused aeration system. Secondary clarifiers will be structurally and mechanically rehabilitated, and a new disc filter facility will replace the existing tertiary filtration processes. The project also includes rehabilitation of the ozone system and a disinfection performance study to verify treatment effectiveness.
Additional upgrades include replacement of the facility’s belt filter press, HVAC improvements, and demolition of a decommissioned digester and an obsolete administrative building. The objective is to stabilize plant operations, improve energy efficiency, and extend the long-term service life of the treatment facility. City officials hope to procure contractor services before final design is complete, so construction documents are expected this year.
Local officials in Solon, Iowa, are planning to procure a new wastewater treatment plant to replace the community’s outdated facility. The $27 million investment will ensure the city can meet future service demands and regulatory requirements. The new plant will provide enhanced treatment capacity along with updated operational capabilities.
Planned improvements include the construction of a new treatment facility with updated biological treatment processes, advanced mechanical and electrical systems, and improved monitoring and control technology. Additional components include new piping, site infrastructure, and supporting utilities. When completed, the plant will improve effluent quality, reduce maintenance challenges, and provide flexibility for future expansions.
The project will be delivered in multiple stages. It is currently in the early phases of planning and design, with design work expected to continue through early 2027. Contracting solicitations will follow with construction expected to begin in 2027.
A phased $9 billion water project is planned for Los Angeles County to create a sustainable, drought-resilient water source for the region. County officials have partnered with the Metropolitan Water District to deliver this advanced water purification facility in the city of Carson. The project primarily includes repurposing an older treated wastewater system. The initiative will deliver major upgrades to water purification and treatment processes, and the construction of a new advanced treatment plant. Additional work will include new pipelines and pump stations needed to convey and distribute purified water.
When complete, the project is expected to produce up to 150 million gallons of purified water per day, enough to meet the annual needs of approximately 500,000 homes. The project is currently in the design and environmental review phase, with construction anticipated to begin in 2027.
A $30 million wastewater plant and system upgrade project is moving forward in Wheeling, West Virginia. City officials will oversee the effort to modernize aging infrastructure and address long-standing collection system challenges. The project will focus on major rehabilitation of the city’s wastewater treatment plant and also include multiple wastewater improvements across the system.
At the treatment plant, planned upgrades span nearly all core process areas. The work will include replacement or rehabilitation of the headworks, secondary treatment processes, disinfection systems, solids handling infrastructure, and associated electrical components. The objective is to restore reliability, improve treatment performance, and bring the facility into alignment with current operational standards.
Beyond the plant, the project will be coordinated with multiple sewer system improvements designed to reduce inflow and infiltration and alleviate capacity constraints. Planning documents outline work that includes construction of new storm sewer infrastructure with upland drainage controls and downstream piping that currently restricts flow. Additional project components will include sewer extensions and pipe replacements in deteriorated areas, rehabilitation of manholes and collection lines, upgrades to pump stations and transmission mains, and replacement of an existing 27-inch siphon to increase capacity, improve maintenance access, and provide system redundancy. When combined with related sewer improvements, the full wastewater system upgrade program is expected to represent approximately $46 million in total investment. The substantial project will include various phases, and no timelines have been announced yet for contracting solicitations.
City officials in Lynnwood, Washington, will oversee a multi-phase project that carries an estimated total price tag of $330 million. The project will be designed to modernize a critical wastewater treatment facility serving the city. The program is designed to strengthen treatment performance, improve long-term reliability, and position the plant to meet future capacity and compliance needs through a staged construction approach.
Current planning documents call for phased upgrades beginning with site preparation and enabling work, followed by major process improvements across several plant systems. The project will call for secondary treatment upgrades to improve core operations and overall process stability, as well as effluent disinfection improvements to strengthen final water quality and support regulatory compliance. Later phases will add or upgrade solids handling and equipment to improve biosolids processing. The phased approach will allow crews to construct and connect new infrastructure while the existing plant remains in operation The project is in the late planning stages, with design time scheduled for 2026. There is a possibility that construction will be delayed until 2028.
These projects reflect a shift in how communities are approaching water infrastructure investment. Water infrastructure is a critical component of economic resilience and public officials are increasingly prioritizing community and regional needs. As funding programs continue to mature and regulatory expectations evolve, the volume and scale of water infrastructure work is likely to remain strong, creating sustained opportunities for engineering, construction, and technology partners across the sector.
As President and CEO of Strategic Partnerships, Inc., Mary Scott Nabers, a former statewide office holder in Texas, has decades of experience in the public and private sectors. Her unique expertise is her success in connecting the two sectors. Mary is also a well-recognized expert in the P3 world and an experienced business development professional. Strategic Partnerships, Inc. publishes Government Market News, the premier platform for connecting public and private sector leaders in the government marketplace.