Investment in Water Infrastructure Creates Jobs,
Drives Innovation, and Safeguards Public Health
The Water Puts America to Work campaign is a partnership of leading water associations, organizations and companies working together to ensure that Congress and the President make investment in water infrastructure a national priority. Our crumbling water infrastructure is reaching a critical stage. With this crisis comes incredible opportunity – 40 years of data clearly demonstrates that investing in water infrastructure boosts the economy. This campaign is raising awareness that water investment creates jobs, drives innovation and safeguards public health. With millions of Americans out of work, the timing could not be better to reinvest in our essential water infrastructure.
The Business Case for Water Investment
Federal investment in water and wastewater leverages enormous benefits nationally and for our local economies. Each public dollar invested in water infrastructure increases private long-term Gross Domestic Product output by $6.35. It is estimated that $1 billion invested in water and wastewater infrastructure can create over 26,000 jobs. Further, the Department of Commerce estimates that each job created in the local water and wastewater industry creates 3.68 jobs in the national economy and each public dollar spent yields $2.62 dollars in economic output in other industries. Unfortunately, infrastructure needs are far outpacing available funding. Some argue that we cannot afford these investments during a time of economic distress. To the contrary, we cannot afford to neglect our infrastructure any longer. As the gap between needs and investment grows, the impacts on jobs, lost business sales and GDP worsens. We must have reliable and resilient water infrastructure systems to attract and retain industry, business, and qualified workers, which are essential to any thriving community.
The Need for Resilient Infrastructure
It often takes a disaster to remind the public, the media and our elected officials that we rely on our infrastructure systems when extreme weather events occur. Our essential water infrastructure is failing and is woefully inadequate to address the “new normal” weather patterns. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation’s drinking and wastewater infrastructure a D grade. This campaign is helping decision makers connect the dots by showing not only the indisputable link between water investment and the economy but also the importance of resilient systems to meet the challenges of today and the future.
Public Support for Water Investment
Water infrastructure investment is critical to protect public health and our quality of life, and it promotes innovative technologies that can help keep America competitive. A recent survey found that 95 percent of the public rank clean water as the most important service government provides and 87 percent believe government should be taking the lead in identifying solutions to the current investment crisis. Despite this overwhelming public support, the federal role in funding water infrastructure has declined steadily over the past two decades.
National Party Platforms
As a result of this campaign, the 2012 Republican and Democratic National Platforms include water infrastructure investment language and reference the positive impact on job creation, economic growth, and health (see the GOP Platform, We Believe in America, pp. 1 and 5) and the Democratic Platform, Moving America Forward (pp. 40-41, 34, and 49). The campaign is using these platform commitments to advocate to put America back to work by making water a top priority.
About the Campaign
This campaign is not advocating for any one solution or legislative proposal. This is not a partisan issue – it is an American issue and we need renewed political will, leadership and cooperation to find solutions to the funding gap. We are successfully harnessing the power of social media to amplify our voice and reach a much broader audience (follow us @WEForg). The campaign is also using traditional media outlets to convey the message – op-ed articles have been placed in newspapers across the country. The campaign is now focusing on getting coverage by major national television, radio, and print media outlets. We will also reach out to new and existing members of Congress and particularly Appropriations and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.
Call to Action
We need your voice. Help educate decision makers that Water Puts America to Work – Investment in Water Infrastructure Creates Jobs, Drives Innovation, and Safeguards Public Health. Ask elected officials what they intend to do to address our nation’s water infrastructure crisis; ask them to put America to work by making water a top priority. Use social media to deliver the campaign message and visit WaterForJobs.org for more information on how you can support this effort.
