People, Pipes, and Population series—Part 2: Infrastructure Fragility: Digital Plans on Analog Pipes and Electrons

In part 2 of the People, Pipes, and Population series, the author examines the often-overlooked infrastructure dependencies that underpin environmental health modernization. While agencies increasingly rely on digital tools, cloud-based platforms, and data-driven systems, these advancements depend on aging and fragile water and power infrastructure that was never designed to support today’s technological demands. Drawing on recent events—including the 2021 Texas power crisis; the 2022 Jackson, Mississippi, water system failure; and the 2023 Maui wildfires—the column illustrates how disruptions to essential utilities can quickly cascade into public health emergencies and hinder environmental health operations. The author argues that modernization efforts must be paired with resilience planning, as power outages, water disruptions, and connectivity failures can undermine inspection programs, laboratory operations, and emergency response capabilities. Looking ahead, the column calls for a broader understanding of capacity building that accounts for infrastructure vulnerabilities and emphasizes that environmental health’s future rests on the interconnected foundations of people, pipes, and population.