The U.S. has a serious infrastructure problem—it’s old, it’s crumbling, and it’s causing more headaches by the day.

From pothole-riddled roads and shaky bridges to aging power grids and water systems, a lot of the country’s essential infrastructure was built decades ago and is now way past its prime. And it’s not just an inconvenience; it’s directly affecting industries that depend on reliable systems to function. When infrastructure starts failing, so does everything that relies on it.

On February 15th, 2025, a major water main break in Southwest Detroit put a spotlight on the growing problems with America’s aging infrastructure. The break happened when a 54-inch steel water main—originally installed in the 1930s—burst, causing massive flooding. About 400 homes were affected, and hundreds of residents were forced to evacuate. Streets quickly filled with water, basements flooded, and freezing temperatures turned everything into an icy mess. Emergency crews had to use boats to rescue 63 adults and 31 children from the area. 

662 people are still in hotels.

The Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) and the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) jumped into action quickly. By February 21, they had installed a 15-foot replacement section for the broken main. Even with this fix, officials estimated it would take at least two weeks to fully restore water service. Meanwhile, city crews got to work clearing debris, cleaning up homes, and replacing damaged appliances like furnaces and water heaters. With around 400 homes affected, full repairs were expected to take about six weeks.

These failures are becoming more common across the country, with water mains breaking at an alarming rate due to outdated pipes and inadequate maintenance.

• According to The American Society of Civil Engineers, the United States and Canada experienced approximately 260,000 water main breaks in 2024 alone, averaging about 710 incidents daily and costing $2.6 billion annually in maintenance and repair costs.
  
  
• According to The University of Utah, nearly 20% of installed water mains in the U.S. and Canada are beyond their useful lives and have not been replaced because of inadequate funding.

For the drilling industry, this poses a significant challenge. Many drilling operations depend on stable access to water for their projects, and when water infrastructure fails, it can slow or even halt operations. Additionally, drilling contractors are often called upon to help repair or replace these failing systems, meaning increased demand for drilling equipment and expertise.

The federal government included water infrastructure as part of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The plan set aside funding for upgrading water treatment plants and improving distribution networks to reduce stress on aging pipes. The idea was to make long-term investments that would help prevent future breakdowns like the Detroit rupture.

Unfortunately, a lot of this work has been put on hold. Political debates, funding delays, and shifting priorities have stalled many infrastructure projects. As a result, problems like aging water mains, outdated treatment plants, and overburdened distribution systems keep getting worse, leading to more breakdowns and water main failures.

The drilling industry has a big role to play in fixing these problems. Contractors who specialize in water infrastructure are the ones out there replacing old pipes, installing new systems, and making sure communities have reliable water access. But without solid government funding and clear timelines, a lot of drilling companies are stuck waiting for work that should already be happening.

The lack of investment in infrastructure isn’t just bad for communities, it’s a headache for drilling businesses too. When aging water lines burst unexpectedly, they can disrupt job sites, delay projects, and drive costs higher. The need for infrastructure investment is clearer than ever. 

While the IRA provided a framework for addressing water system failures, action is needed to move these projects forward. For the drilling industry, this means staying informed about upcoming infrastructure projects, advocating for necessary funding, and preparing for a future where water infrastructure work will likely become even more critical.

As cities like Detroit continue to deal with the consequences of aging systems, the question remains: will the necessary investments be made before more failures occur?