WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Today, Brown and Caldwell, a leading environmental engineering and construction firm, joined elected officials, water utilities, community leaders, and businesses participating in the third annual Imagine a Day Without Water (IADWW), a nationwide day of education and advocacy about the value of water. Led by the Value of Water (VoW) Campaign, hundreds of organizations across the country hosted events aimed at raising awareness about the crucial need for investment in our nation’s water infrastructure to ensure that no American community is left without safe and reliable water.
Recognizing that an investment in drinking water and wastewater systems is essential to national health, safety, and economic prosperity, BC employees hosted water awareness events at office locations across the company. Staff wore IADWW T-shirts, snapped photos and took to social media to share their thoughts using the hashtag #valuewater and speaking to what water means to them, why they are passionate about ensuring the sustainable management of it, and the need to invest in water infrastructure.
“Water is essential for our civilization,” said BC engineer Jason Tincu, who led BC’s involvement in this year’s campaign. “We need to be looking at our entire water portfolio, and help people to understand the benefits that greater investment would bring to our economy and communities.”
“We’re thrilled that Brown and Caldwell is a part of Imagine a Day Without Water. This national day of action educates our neighbors and public officials about the essential role water plays in all of our lives, and the threat that aging and underfunded water infrastructure poses to our communities and economy. It is easy to take our water infrastructure for granted because it is often underground and out of sight. But, the systems that deliver water to and from our homes and businesses require reinvestment and upkeep just like roads and bridges. It is time to take action before we face a crisis.”
Radhika Fox, CEO of the US Water Alliance and director of the VoW Campaign
Despite the vast challenges facing American water infrastructure, the good news is that there is great opportunity in investment. A study conducted by the Value of Water Campaign has found that there is over $220 billion in economic activity to be gained nationwide by closing the water infrastructure investment gap. The American public is already widely supportive of implementing these needed investments. Above any other pressing political issue, Americans name rebuilding the nation’s infrastructure as the issue they most want elected officials to address.