NC Chamber Senior Director of Infrastructure Competitiveness Dana Magliola provided the following update on a national study from the Value of Water Campaign.

A new national study from the Value of Water Campaign, The Economic Impact of Water Infrastructure Investment, reinforces a central finding of the NC Chamber Foundation’s Water Infrastructure Competitiveness Analysis:  reliable water and wastewater systems are essential economic infrastructure that support growth, business investment, and long-term competitiveness. 

The report reflects what employers across North Carolina already know. Reliable water infrastructure supports jobs, industrial growth, public health and local economies. When systems fail to keep pace with demand, the economic consequences are significant. 

The national report echoes many of the same concerns identified in North Carolina. While the Value of Water report examines trends across the country, NC Chamber Foundation research explores how water availability, infrastructure capacity, and planning uncertainty increasingly influence competitiveness here at home.  

Both reports point to aging infrastructure, deferred investment, and accelerating demand create real constraints on economic growth.  As North Carolina attracts new residents, major employers, and advanced manufacturing investment, reliable water infrastructure cannot be taken for granted. It must be planned for, prioritized, and supported. 

The NC Chamber Foundation’s work builds on the national conversation by focusing on state-specific solutions. At the national level, the Value of Water Campaign makes a strong argument for sustained investment in this important infrastructure vertical. The NC Chamber Foundation’s analysis focuses on how North Carolina can better position itself through stronger data and planning tools, voluntary regional collaboration, expanded site readiness efforts, and a long-term water competitiveness strategy. The emphasis is not on mandates or one-size-fits-all solutions, but practical tools that help communities, utilities, and businesses plan and avoid future constraints. 

Together, these reports, along with growing discussion, underscore that North Carolina’s economic growth depends on reliable water infrastructure. . However, when long-term planning and investment fall behind, growth becomes harder to sustain.