This spring, STAline representatives joined water and sewer distribution professionals from across the country in Washington, D.C. for the 2026 WASDA Washington Summit, a chance to put a face on our industry for the lawmakers who shape the policies affecting it.
Working alongside advocacy partner Van Scoyoc Associates (VSA), our team walked into Capitol Hill meetings ready to make the case for why water and sewer infrastructure deserves a seat at the table. For an industry that operates largely out of sight, underground and out of mind until something goes wrong, moments like this matter. They give the people who write infrastructure policy a chance to hear directly from the people who build and maintain it.
The conversations centered on three priorities that hit close to home for anyone in this business.
Funding that lasts. Water and sewer systems are built to last decades, but the funding that supports them often isn't. Our team pushed for sustainable, long-term investment in water and sewer projects, not just one-off grants that leave utilities scrambling to plan multi-year work around unpredictable budgets.
Permitting reform. Every month a project sits waiting on approval is a month of rising costs and delayed service improvements. Cutting the red tape and delays that slow projects down was a central message, along with the case for clearer timelines that let utilities plan with confidence.
Workforce development. The people behind the pipes are retiring faster than they're being replaced. Building the pipeline of skilled workers our industry needs to keep pace with demand was a priority that resonated across nearly every meeting, regardless of which state or district we were in.
It was a chance to remind Washington that behind every pipe, pump station, and treatment plant is a crew of people working to keep water flowing safely to homes and businesses nationwide.
The work doesn't stop when the flights land. In the months following the Summit, WASDA members open their doors to the same policymakers they met in D.C., giving them a firsthand look at the projects, the people, and the innovation that make up America's water infrastructure.
It's one thing to hear about workforce shortages or funding gaps in a briefing. It's another to stand next to the equipment and the crews doing the work, hear directly from operators about what a project delay actually costs, and see firsthand what long-term underinvestment looks like at the plant level. These facility visits turn a policy conversation into a concrete one, and they're often what moves a priority from a talking point to an actual vote.
STAline is proud to stand alongside WASDA in these efforts, and we'd love more voices in the room. Advocacy works best when it reflects the full range of experience across our industry, from small rural systems to large municipal operations.
If you want a stronger say in the policies shaping your day-to-day work, consider joining the WASDA Advocacy Committee. Learn more here.
ALABAMA CUSTOMERS: See important notice regarding your state's sales tax.
"Seller has collected the simplified sellers use tax on taxable transactions delivered into Alabama and the tax will be remitted on the customer's behalf to the Alabama Department of Revenue.Seller's program account number is SSU-R012660449."
