Five-hundred organizations and thousands of individuals across the country have pledged to participate in Imagine a Day Without Water. The Value of Water Coalition convened the advocacy day to help raise awareness about the severe challenges facing water systems in the U.S.
Water is essential for day-to-day life and the nation's economy, but many Americans take it for granted. Any interruption in water service is an economic, public health and public safety issue. But in many communities, water systems are more than a century old. Imagine a Day Without Water gives everyone a chance to speak with one voice on one day about the need to invest in these critical systems.
"I am thrilled with the breadth of groups who are joining the Imagine a Day Without Water effort. While the water challenges we face are vast—aging infrastructure, water quality issues, drought and more—our capacity for innovation is greater. We have the solutions we need to solve our water problems, but it isn't going to be easy or free. We need public officials, the private sector, and communities to stand up and prioritize investment in water systems. Because no community should ever have to go a day without water," said Radhika Fox, director of the Value of Water Coalition and CEO of the US Water Alliance.
Across the country on Sept. 15, organizations will host a variety of events to shine a spotlight on water in their communities. See a list of participating organizations here. Watch the official Imagine a Day Without Water video here. And view the petition that demands public officials prioritize investment in water systems here.
Michael Deane, executive director of the National Assn. of Water Companies (NAWC), released the following statement in support of Imagine a Day Without Water 2016.
On Thursday, Sept. 15, America’s attention will be directed to an important campaign of conscience: Imagine a Day Without Water. As a founding member of the Value of Water Coalition, the NAWC is pleased to join with other organizations and utilities across the country to raise awareness and educate America about the impact water has on our lives.
For many, unreliable drinking water and wastewater services may seem unimaginable. Clean, safe water and reliable water service is expected—and sometimes taken for granted—in the U.S. However, as we’ve seen with the water crisis in Flint, Mich., and the unprecedented drought in the western U.S., limited or restricted access to clean water can be a reality.
Water touches every sector of our nation’s economy. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), 14% of water is used in homes and businesses, 40% is used to grow the food we eat and the beverages we drink, and 46% is used to manufacture the products we buy. But due to deferred investment, EPA also estimates that it will cost over $384 billion to address the country’s drinking water infrastructure needs by 2033.
The challenges are significant, but there are many solutions. Through increased use of private financing and public-private partnerships, we can continue to improve, design, build, and operate a dependable water infrastructure now and for future generations. Evidence of the receptiveness to solutions from the private water sector came to light in a recent independent survey by NAWC and Truth from the Tap, which found that Americans do recognize the serious challenges facing the nation’s water infrastructure and they want private water to be a part of the solution.
Once again, as a founding partner of the Value of Water Coalition, NAWC is proud to take this opportunity to bring national attention to Imagine a Day Without Water. Join us on Sept. 15, 2016, as we start a national conversation to raise awareness and educate Americans about the value of water and its impact on our daily lives.
All of us working together can solve our water infrastructure challenges—so no community ever has to imagine living even just one day without water.
Source: National Assn. of Water Companies
