Climate Change Threatens Drinking Water Access Across US

Study finds 67 million Americans served by vulnerable water utilities

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A new study published in Communications Earth & Environment has found that climate change is making access to drinkable water more difficult across the United States. Hazards like drought, flooding, and extreme cold are threatening the quantity and quality of drinking water for 67 million Americans served by water utilities at high risk from climate impacts. The aging infrastructure of many water systems, lack of climate risk planning, and limited funding are exacerbating the problem.

Why it matters

Reliable access to clean drinking water is a fundamental human need, and climate change poses a growing threat to this basic resource. As extreme weather events become more common, water utilities across the country are struggling to maintain service and plan for future resilience, putting millions of customers at risk.

The details

The study examined 1,500 municipal water utilities nationwide and found that utilities in every U.S. region are vulnerable to climate hazards. Drought impacts Western states, while coastal flooding worsens groundwater quality, and extreme cold damages pipes, especially in the Midwest and Northeast. Many utilities lack the financial resources and forward-looking planning to adapt to these intensifying threats, often focusing on short-term emergency fixes rather than long-term infrastructure investments.

  • The study was published in Communications Earth & Environment in February 2026.

The players

Communications Earth & Environment

A peer-reviewed scientific journal that published the study on climate change's impact on U.S. drinking water.

Costa Samaras

Professor of civil and environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University and co-author of the study.

Zia Lyle

Postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and co-author of the study.

Denver Water

A water utility in Colorado that is assessing the risks drought poses to its system to plan for the future.

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What they’re saying

“Much of our infrastructure was built many decades ago. It was built not for the climate that we're experiencing now.”

— Costa Samaras, Professor of civil environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University

“When you're not thinking strategically about asset management and long-term planning, it's really easy to become stuck in a negative financial loop.”

— Zia Lyle, Postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“The lack of disclosure here indicates a real systematic lack of climate risk assessments. When we interviewed drinking water utility managers, some of them were just unaware of how this range of hazards can affect all the different aspects of their system.”

— Zia Lyle, Postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

“Now is the time for systems to invest. Overall, capital is more affordable now, and they can make these investments before it becomes too expensive.”

— Zia Lyle, Postdoctoral researcher at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What’s next

In Colorado, Denver Water is currently assessing the risks drought poses to their utilities so that they can plan appropriately and ensure water for their customers in the future.

The takeaway

This study highlights the urgent need for water utilities across the U.S. to assess their climate risks, invest in resilient infrastructure, and disclose these vulnerabilities to customers and bond investors. Without proactive planning and adaptation, millions of Americans could face growing uncertainty and disruptions to their drinking water supply.