The Water Environment Federation (WEF), a leading not-for-profit technical and educational water quality organization, along with our Water for Jobs partners, will highlight the irrefutable link between water and economic recovery during the National Water Infrastructure Summit: Reinvest/Rebuild/Revive in Washington, DC. The Summit takes place at the Ronald Reagan Building on April 16. (event flyer) Top leaders and experts will come together to share their perspectives about the need for resilient water infrastructure systems and its impact on job creation and a strong financial future. Moderated by John R. Bigelow, Senior Vice President of Business Services
for American Water, the current line-up* includes:
- George Hawkins, General Manager, DC Water
- Harlan Kelly, Jr., General Manager, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
- Howard Neukrug, Commissioner of the Philadelphia Water Departmen
- George R. Schink, Ph.D., Managing Director and Principal, Navigant Economics
- Carter Strickland, Commissioner of the New York City of Environmental Protection
The National Water Infrastructure Summit is a key activity of the Water for Jobs: Water Puts America to Work campaign that WEF launched ahead of the 2012 Presidential election. The campaign, which makes the business case for water infrastructure investment, has the support of 17 national partners and 34 WEF member associations representing more than 31,000 water quality professionals nationwide. The partnership is using this effort and the summit to raise awareness about this critical issue and to send a unified message to our elected officials that investment in water infrastructure is an investment in America’s future.
Much of the U.S. water and wastewater infrastructure was built more than a century ago and has reliably worked for years to keep the water flowing in and out of our homes and businesses. In recent years, a lack of investment and priority for this largely invisible network of pipes, tunnels and tanks has resulted in an alarming state of disrepair that threatens the foundation of America’s economy and quality of life. Last week, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave the nation's drinking and wastewater infrastructure a D grade in its 2013 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure. In a previous report, ASCE warns that unless we bridge the funding gap and adequately invest in our nation’s water infrastructure, the U.S. could lose nearly 700,000 jobs by 2020 and if the infrastructure deficit is not addressed by 2040, 1.4 million jobs will be at risk.
With needs far outpacing investment, the U.S. is falling behind many developed nations, potentially impacting our ability to compete in a global market. With this crisis comes incredible opportunity – 40 years of data clearly demonstrates that investing in water infrastructure boosts the economy. With millions of Americans out of work, the timing could not be better to reinvest in our essential water infrastructure. For more information, visit www.waterforjobs.org.
If you would like to attend in person, register here.
