Reflections from the 2026 Emerging Issues Forum
At the 2026 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Water, one theme was clear: water infrastructure is essential to economic performance.
Water systems may not always be visible, but they matter. Businesses need dependable water and sewer service to operate and expand. When systems are outdated or unreliable, growth becomes harder. When they are strong and well maintained, communities are more competitive.
Infrastructure Readiness Shapes Investment Decisions
Site selectors and expanding industries consistently evaluate infrastructure capacity alongside workforce and land availability. Questions about treatment capacity, regulatory compliance, flood risk, and long-term system sustainability directly influence where jobs go.
Communities that invest proactively in water infrastructure position themselves for growth. Those that defer upgrades risk higher long-term costs, not only financially, but economically.
Governor Josh Stein’s remarks at the forum reinforced this connection, highlighting continued statewide investment in drinking water and wastewater systems as essential to protecting both public health and economic vitality.
Governor Stein also referenced several strategies for strengthening water infrastructure recommended by the Institute for Emerging Issues Water Infrastructure Advisory Council.
Together, these strategies recognize that reliable water systems are not only an environmental or public works priority, but are also essential to economic growth and community stability across the state.
These include improving regional collaboration among water systems, modernizing infrastructure standards to better withstand future conditions, investing in the next generation of water professionals, strengthening the financial sustainability of water utilities, and encouraging innovation and data-driven solutions in water management.
Planning for Future Conditions — Not Past Assumptions
A recurring theme was the need to modernize standards. Rainfall patterns are shifting. Flood events are more intense. Infrastructure designed for yesterday’s benchmarks may not perform under tomorrow’s conditions.
For growing regions, watershed-based planning helps reduce risk and protect economic growth. When infrastructure is resilient, it protects housing, commercial corridors, industrial parks, and critical facilities and provides greater certainty for investors.
The Workforce Gap Is Real
Even the best-designed water systems depend on trained operators and technicians to keep them running. Across the state, many experienced workers are retiring, and there are not enough new workers entering the field to replace them.
This is more than a staffing issue. If communities do not have qualified professionals to operate and maintain their systems, reliability suffers and so does economic stability.
Expanding certification pathways, building stronger partnerships with community colleges, and promoting water careers as stable, well-paying professions will be essential to keeping systems dependable and supporting long-term growth.
Moving from Planning to Implementation
The forum emphasized moving beyond plans toward implementation-ready projects. Funding opportunities are competitive. Communities that are grant-ready and can demonstrate regional coordination, project readiness, and long-term viability will be better positioned to secure investment.
Since water systems operate across jurisdictional lines, planning and investment strategies must do the same. Coordinated regional approaches reduce risk and strengthen long-term economic stability.
Water infrastructure is more than physical systems. It protects local economies and reduces long-term risk. Smart investment today helps prevent costly challenges in the future.
These conversations align closely with Centralina’s Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, which emphasizes infrastructure readiness, resilience, and long-term competitiveness as foundational to regional prosperity. Water is essential to growth and long-term economic success.
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