(Kansas City, Mo.) – Today, KC Water joins elected officials, water utilities, community leaders, educators, and businesses participating in the fourth 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, hundreds of organizations across the country will host events and spearhead projects today aimed at raising awareness about the crucial need for investment in our nation’s water infrastructure.
Without water there’s no morning cup of coffee, no shower to start your day, no beer to end your day, and no working restrooms.
“Safe and reliable drinking water is an essential part of a healthy community and a resource we often take for granted,” said KC Water Director Terry Leeds. “While we often overlook the treatment plant, pump stations, and more than 2,800 miles of underground pipe that deliver water right to our taps, this is an intricate system that makes almost everything we do possible. This week is an important time to remember the vital role water plays in our daily lives.”
KC Water created a short video to highlight what we would miss without water. Local coffee shops and breweries also received KC Water coffee sleeves and coasters to share with their customers the value of water.
After decades of underfunding, water infrastructure is aging and in need of investment. Drought, flooding, and population changes are stressing water and wastewater systems around the nation. A single nationwide day without water service would put $43.5 billion of economic activity at risk. In just eight days, a national water service stoppage would put nearly two million jobs in jeopardy.
“We’re thrilled that KC Water 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.”
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.
For more information, please contact Brooke Givens, Media Relations Coordinator, at brooke.givens@kcmo.org or 816.513.0284.
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KC Water maintains and operates water treatment and distribution systems, stormwater management systems, and wastewater collection and treatment systems for residential and business customers in Kansas City and for wholesale customers in the Kansas City area. KC Water is primarily funded by fees charged to customers based on their use or impacts on the three utility systems.
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