The USA's National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has advocated a "robust expansion of PPPs for drinking water and wastewater projects" to meet the urgent need to replace aging water infrastructure across the country.

NAM has published this proposal as part of its "Building to Win" strategy - an ambitious initiative seeking to revitalize failing American infrastructure originally released ahead of the 2016 elections. The updated document is intended to serve as a blueprint to repair roads, bridges, rails, airports, ports and waterways and represent manufacturers’ vision for a solution that will enhance the competitiveness of manufacturers and improve the lives of manufacturing workers.

NAM believes that PPPs should be implemented through programs like the Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act to bring added resources above and beyond the Environmental Protection Agency current State Revolving Funds and other programs, which cannot provide adequate funding for the works necessary to ensure American water infrastructure is fit for the 21st century.

The average age of pipes bringing water to faucets across the USA is 47 years, but in urban centers, the age is frequently much higher. As many as 240,000 water main leaks every year cause property damage and service disruptions.