Leonardo DiCaprio Instagram – Texas has seen a growing problem with its water infrastructure. Aging pipes and failing treatment plants have caused a number of issues in the state, from its drinking water infrastructure barely receiving a passing grade in a 2021 report from the American Society of Civil Engineers to a growing number of boil-water notices statewide. Rural areas in particular see exacerbated problems, with some pipes over 100 years old. These communities –where populations are smaller– have less money to spend on repairs or upgrading water infrastructure. Texas has the largest rural population in the country. Climate change has also played a role in the failure of the state’s aging water infrastructure, with extreme weather events causing old pipes to break more often. And these weather events have become more and more frequent in recent years–Texas faced its worst drought in more than a decade just last year. Texas has also recently seen extreme winter weather and an uptick in tornadoes, all of which have caused questions about whether Texas’ infrastructure is equipped to handle extreme weather. Experts warn that failure to address this issue could lead to catastrophic consequences for the state’s economy, environment, and public health. Learn more at the link in bio.