Access to clean, safe drinking water is a fundamental human right, yet many Native American communities continue to face severe water challenges due to aging infrastructure, contamination, remote locations, and long-standing underfunding.

Across the country, water systems are aging, demands are rising, and the challenges tied to climate change aren’t slowing down. But one issue is quietly shaping the future of every treatment plant, utility, and public works department: a rapidly shrinking water workforce.