Out of the more than $3 trillion of new spending approved since 2021, the most basic and important part of infrastructure is being shortchanged. Again.

Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, $55 billion is about to start flowing to improve the nation’s wastewater and drinking water systems. That sounds like a lot of money, but it pales in comparison with the $110 billion for roads and bridges, is less than the amounts for broadband internet ($65 billion) and Amtrak ($66 billion) and is on par with the $50 billion for projects to protect against droughts, heat, floods and wildfires.