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, the fourth annual day of action hosted by the Value of Water Campaign.
Turning on the tap for clean, safe drinking water, and flushing the toilet with no second though 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 our water infrastructure is facing challenges. Platte Canyon Water & Sanitation District has over 76 miles of water mains, including a substantial amount of cast iron pipe, that fails regularly, resulting in unplanned outages, property damage, and emergency repair costs.
The recent revision to the District’s 10 -Year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) prioritized the replacement of water mains and indicated additional infrastructure funding is needed. The Board decided to fully fund the 10-Year CIP, providing for 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.
This 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.