Can you imagine a day without water? What would that day be like? No water to drink or make a cup of coffee. No water to shower or flush the toilet. Do we really understand how important water is in our daily lives? Those are the questions that the Imagine a Day Without Water campaign wants you to ask yourself. Imagine a Day Without Water 2019 is the fifth annual day to raise awareness and educate America about the value of water. Last year, on October 10, 2018, more than 1,100 organizations came together for Imagine a Day Without Water hosted by the Value of Water Campaign.
Turning on the tap for clean, safe drinking water, and flushing the toilet with no second thought about what happens to wastewater, are actions most Americans take for granted every day. But drought, flooding, and population changes are stressing our water and wastewater systems. While most Americans enjoy reliable water service, our nation’s water infrastructure is aging and in need of investment. On Imagine a Day Without Water, a thousand organizations across the country will raise awareness about not taking water for granted and the crucial need for investment in our nation’s water systems.
Water infrastructure is the lifelines of our community. Our water infrastructure supports every facet of our daily lives, but it is facing challenges. Southwest Metropolitan Water and Sanitation has 177.85 miles of water mains. Within this system, approximately 70% of Southwest Metro’s pipes are on average 50 years old, which have the potential to fail, resulting in unplanned outages, property damage, and emergency repair costs. Each year the District updates its 10-Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), providing a proactive approach to water main replacements with projects prioritized so the water mains most in need of repair are replaced in a timely manner.
An investment in our drinking water and wastewater systems is essential to our national health, safety, environment, and economic prosperity. Imagine a Day Without Water is an opportunity to educate the public about our local water systems and challenges, and what organizations are trying to do to solve our big water problems. Investing in water is investing in a future where no American will have to imagine a day without water.