181009 Water awareness day.pdf

Contact: Matt Evans
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Gov. Otter issues proclamation for Imagine a
Day Without Water
BOISE (Oct. 9, 2018) – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission joins Gov. C.L.”Butch” Otter in
commemorating Imagine a Day Without Water, a nationwide day of education and advocacy about the
value of water.
The fourth-annual event is set for Oct. 10 with the goal of raising awareness about the state of
our nation’s water infrastructure.
One of the crowning achievements of the 20th century was building reliable water and
wastewater systems.
Since then, public and private utilities across the US have been putting people to work to
construct, operate and maintain the infrastructure upon which Americans rely.
There are 1,960 public water systems in Idaho, the nation’s fastest-growing state.
The American Society of Civil Engineers 2018 Report Card for Idaho’s infrastructure gives the
state’s drinking water systems a C grade and its wastewater infrastructure a B-.
The National Association of Water Companies has estimated that the state’s water infrastructure
will need $968.1 million in maintenance, repair and replacement over the next 20 years, in part
to accommodate a larger population.
The good news is that investment in water infrastructure puts people to work. A recent study by
the Clean Water Council found that $1 billion in investments in water infrastructure supports
28,500 jobs.
The Commission hopes to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining our water
infrastructure by commemorating Imagine a Day Without Water, along with the attached
proclamation by Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter.
“We're thrilled that the Idaho Public Utilities Commission 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” said Radhika Fox, CEO of the US Water Alliance and
Director of the Value of Water Campaign. “Water infrastructure is often out of sight, out of
mind. 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
national crisis.”