WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Leading environmental engineering and construction firm Brown and Caldwell today joined elected officials, water utilities, community leaders, educators, and businesses to acknowledge 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, supporting organizations will host events to raise awareness about not taking water for granted and the crucial need for water infrastructure investment to ensure no American community is left without safe and reliable water. The focus of this year’s event is to invite people to learn more about where our water comes from and where our wastewater goes.
Recognizing that investment in community wastewater and drinking water systems is essential to national health, safety, and economic prosperity, Brown and Caldwell employees took to social media to discuss their passion for the sustainable management of the most precious resource. Like-minded engineers, scientists, and construction professionals rallied for the event to create videos, snap photos, and share thoughts on what water means to them using the hashtag #ValueWater.
“Our purpose is to have a positive impact on people, our clients, our communities, and the environment,” said Brown and Caldwell Water Resources Director Kirk Westphal. “Imagine a Day Without Water is a great platform for our 1,700 employee-owners to celebrate our collective passion for the preservation of safe, accessible, and sustainable community water supplies.”
“We’re grateful to Brown and Caldwell for being a part of this year’s Imagine a Day Without Water. Raising awareness about the state of water infrastructure is a crucial step to ensuring water systems keep flowing for generations to come. Even though we cannot see the pipes and sewers beneath our feet, water cannot be taken for granted. High-quality water service is a critical part of every thriving community. Today we encourage everyone to take a minute to learn more about their local water system, where their drinking water comes from and where their wastewater goes.”
Oluwole (OJ) McFoy, board chair of the US Water Alliance
According to the 2021 Value of Water Index, 83 percent of Americans said ensuring a stable supply of water should be a top federal priority. They also ranked addressing water contamination and investing in infrastructure as top priorities.
“All water has value,” said Brown and Caldwell One Water Leader Melanie Holmer. “We are helping communities tap into increasingly challenging sources of water to better leverage the interconnectivity of the one water cycle and improve the reliability of water supplies for generations to come. Unfortunately, with the current drought and other extreme weather events, imagining a day without water is not as hard as it used to be.”
Furthermore, in its latest analysis on water infrastructure investment, The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure, co-authored by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the VoW Campaign zeroed in on the importance of water to all business sectors for economic recovery. The report suggests the U.S. GDP would grow by $4.5 trillion in 20 years, create 800,00 new jobs, and increase disposable household income by $2,000.
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About Value of Water Campaign
Imagine a Day Without Water began in 2015 as a project of The Value of Water Campaign. The Value of Water Campaign educates and inspires the nation about how water is essential, invaluable, and in need of investment. Spearheaded by top leaders in the water industry, the Value of Water Campaign is building public and political will for investment in America’s water infrastructure.