If we just keep kicking the can down the road we're no better than they were.

Systems get more expensive to run over time, not less. Things need to be maintained and replaced. New things need to be built. It sucks but so would handing the next gen a system that's crumbling even further

We already are sacrificing. Not just Gen x but everyone. Literally as we speak we are.

The only realization people are coming to is that the wealthy are the ones keeping everything from improvement so they can lock down their wealth as much as possible.

Not like rationing has never been a thing, but you can bet there's gonna be some damage if folks find out those data centers still get all their water

Sacrifice implies voluntarily, right? I more specifically mean not expecting your utilities/property tax to increase at least than the rate of inflation. Being willing to vote in people who want to fund the gap left by years of others cutting things they didn't understand, because they wanted to be popular.

And because someone is going to mention data centres: your city/utility etc will have public documents about what they are spending on what and they project they will need (in many countries). Don't like how they are doing it? Ask some questions!

When are we the people who are making the decisions the youth will hate us for? For me, it's probably now. So, I'm doing my best to help steer things in a better direction.

Won't be any water if the treatment plants aren't maintained.

Yup and the wealth that used to build and maintain these systems has been extracted to the billionaire and shareholders, who are mostly boomers now and spend it all on housing, medications and cruises.