Pittsburgh, PA - Today, The Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) joined elected officials, water utilities, community leaders, educators, and businesses from across the country as part of the sixth annual Imagine a Day Without Water, a nationwide day of education and advocacy about the value of water. Led by the Value of Water Campaign, 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.
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 this year as our community dealt with the public health crisis from coronavirus, we saw that reliable water service is something we depend on to protect our health and economy. Our nation’s water infrastructure is aging and in need of investment. A day without water service is a public health and an economic disaster: a single nationwide day without water service would put our entire economy at risk.
As PWSA turns its attention to critical water infrastructure improvements, this investment will strengthen our water system, add needed redundancy, and ensure an uninterrupted supply of quality water. Investing in our water infrastructure is also an investment in Pittsburgh. As the Pittsburgh economy grows, we will be prepared to meet the greater demand on our water system s as more residents invest in their homes and businesses, and more companies choose to locate and grow within the city.
Renewing our aging infrastructure will protect public health, and avoid massive costs that will come if we allow these systems to continue to deteriorate. Today, we join other water utilities from across the country on social media to raise awareness and educate America about the value of water to our communities.
“We’ve already made significant improvements to Pittsburgh’s water quality and infrastructure, but there is still work to be done,” stated Will Pickering, PWSA’s Executive Director. “We are now in a position where we can begin to rebuild our water systems. The investment we will make over the next several years will provide current and future generations of Pittsburgh with the quality water services that they expect and deserve.”
“We're thrilled that the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority has joined Imagine a Day Without Water. This national day of action educates our neighbors and public officials about the essential role water plays in our lives,” said Radhika Fox, CEO of the US Water Alliance and Director of the Value of Water Campaign. “This year showed us the critical importance of water service to safeguard public health and the economy. But the infrastructure and service it takes to bring water to our homes and businesses and take it away is not free and can’t be taken for granted. We all need to educate ourselves about where our water comes from and the investment these critical systems need.”
Imagine a Day Without Water is an opportunity for diverse organizations, from environmental advocates to coffee shops, aquariums to car washes, city halls to water utilities, to talk about how water is important to them. Over the past five years, it has provided a platform for educating the public and advocating for leaders to prioritize investing in water today, so in the future no American will have to imagine a day without water. Learn more at imagineadaywithoutwater.org and pgh2o.com/value-water and follow the conversation on social media at #ValueWater.
About PWSA
The Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority (PWSA) is the largest combined water, sewer and stormwater authority in Pennsylvania, serving 300,000 consumers throughout the City of Pittsburgh and surrounding areas.
About The 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. Follow the Value of Water Campaign on Twitter and Facebook.
