EPA Asks Public for Input on Water Pipe Survey
Published Date: 6/26/2026
Notice
Summary
The EPA is asking for approval to collect new info about the nation’s drinking water needs through the 8th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey. This survey helps figure out what repairs and upgrades water systems need, affecting water providers and communities everywhere. You’ve got until July 27, 2026, to share your thoughts, and this effort helps guide smart spending on safe, clean water.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 2 costs, 1 mixed.
Survey will drive DWSRF fund allotments
EPA will use the 8th Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs Survey and Assessment (DWINSA) results primarily as the basis for allotting Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) funds among states, and to estimate 20-year capital costs of Safe Drinking Water Act regulations and the provision of safe drinking water to the public.
How systems will be sampled and estimated
Large community water systems (serving more than 100,000 persons) will be surveyed via a census; medium systems (serving 3,301 to 100,000 persons) through a statistically based sample; small systems (serving 3,300 or fewer persons) via a re-sample of those surveyed in the 7th DWINSA. Non-profit non-CWS and American Indian/Alaska Native Village systems will generally not be directly surveyed; their capital needs will be estimated by adjusting the 7th DWINSA.
One-time reporting burden on water systems
Community water systems, primacy agencies, and Tribal utilities are the respondents. EPA estimates 2,975 total respondents, a one-time response, with a total respondent burden of 16,114 hours per year and a total estimated respondent cost of $1,060,526 per year for the 8th DWINSA.
Lead service line information excluded
The 8th DWINSA will not collect information on lead service lines; lead service line data are explicitly excluded from this information collection.
Tribal utilities asked capability questions
EPA will ask supplemental questions of American Indian (AI) and Alaska Native Village (ANV) utilities about technical, managerial, and financial capability. EPA says AI/ANV question responses will be used to inform the Agency about Tribal water operator certification program usage and needs, and other technical, managerial, and financial capability concerns.
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