This November, voters across the country will make decisions on more than candidates. In several communities, water infrastructure is also on the ballot.
The measures vary in size and purpose, from drinking water and wastewater treatment to stormwater, resilience, and long-term water supply. Together, they offer a snapshot of the infrastructure decisions communities are being asked to consider in 2026.
Here are a few examples:
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg voters will consider whether to authorize up to $600 million in general obligation bonds for storm resilience improvements, including floodwater protection, stormwater pump stations, and drainage infrastructure, as well as wastewater collection and treatment facilities and drinking water distribution and supply facilities.
Source: Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections
https://www.votepinellas.gov/382/November-3-2026-General-Election-Informa
Ventura County, California
Voters within the United Water Conservation District will consider a measure authorizing up to $350 million in general obligation bonds for water supply, conservation, and water quality capital projects. The District identifies three priority projects for the funding, including Santa Felicia Dam safety improvements, fish-passage improvements, and an extraction barrier project intended to protect groundwater from seawater intrusion.
Source: United Water Conservation District
https://www.unitedwater.org/bond/
Macon, Missouri
Macon voters will decide whether to authorize up to $80 million in revenue bonds for improvements to the city’s combined waterworks and sewerage system. Macon Municipal Utilities identifies approximately $50 million for water treatment plant improvements and $30 million for sewer treatment plant improvements.
Source: Macon Municipal Utilities
https://maconutilities.com/november-3-2026-bond-election/
Siloam Springs, Arkansas
Siloam Springs voters will consider a wastewater infrastructure measure tied to replacement of an existing 5/8-cent sales and use tax. The proposed bond issue is $55 million and would fund wastewater treatment plant and collection system improvements.
Sources: City of Siloam Springs and Axios Northwest Arkansas
https://www.siloamsprings.gov/
https://www.axios.com/local/nw-arkansas/2026/10/07/siloam-springs-bond-issue-election-wastewater
Baltimore County, Maryland
Baltimore County voters will consider a $20 million Waterway Improvement Program bond authorization for waterway and stormwater-related projects. Eligible work includes shoreline stabilization, erosion control, wetland restoration, streambank and riverbank restoration, dredging, nonpoint pollution control and related improvements.
Source: Maryland State Board of Elections
https://www.elections.maryland.gov/elections/2026/ballot_questions.html
A COMMON THEME, DIFFERENT NEEDS
The details are local, but the issues are familiar across the water industry: aging infrastructure, resilience, treatment capacity, water supply, and long-term system reliability.
Some communities are considering general obligation bonds. Others are using revenue bonds or local tax-supported financing. The project needs themselves also vary widely. What they have in common is simple: Voters are being asked to make direct decisions about water infrastructure investment.
For owners, engineers, contractors, and other members of the water industry, these measures are worth watching. They offer an early look at where communities are considering major investments and which infrastructure priorities may move forward in the years ahead.
On November 3, some consequential water decisions may appear well below the names at the top of the ballot.