Liquid Assets: It’s Time to Review the Nation’s Portfolio

By Rebecca West
President of the Water Environment Federation

You’ve probably heard it said that when the market’s down, it’s time to invest. Although I can’t speak to personal financial decisions (that’s someone else’s blog), public investment in the nation’s aging infrastructure--especially our drinking water and wastewater systems--makes a lot of sense and seems to be gaining some traction as one way to address our current economic woes through job creation and so forth. But beyond infrastructure funding as an economic stimulus, it’s simply past time for communities across the country to review their water infrastructure investments. And in light of declining revenues and the challenges of financing future debt, communities everywhere will want to make sure they can continue to provide water and sewer services that protect public health and maintain quality of life. All of this is pushing the community dialogue about where to get the best value for infrastructure investments, and that’s a very good thing.

I just got back from a great North Carolina Water Environment Association meeting, where of course the growing national focus on infrastructure (and the potential for increased funding) was a hot topic, and I heard some pretty interesting ideas. One was that economic considerations plus infrastructure demands could result in scenarios where communities combine their resources to address infrastructure issues. Evidently that’s already happening in some areas, and we are likely to see more in the future, especially as we get even more broadly into management from a watershed perspective and as communities explore the most cost-effective ways to provide essential water and sewer services to their customers.

The other thought that really surprised me during dinner conversations was whether or not water utilities should be lumped in with failing corporations in terms of government assistance. Yes we all recognize that our water infrastructure badly needs a cash infusion, but do we want that as part of an economic bailout by government? After all, infrastructure problems have resulted from a failure to invest and will this fact lead the public to believe that our water infrastructure problems are a result of poor management or a lack of leadership? I wanted to share these thoughts with you because they speak to the ongoing philosophical discussion of whether investments into water infrastructure should be made by the national government or made and defined at the local level?

One way or another, it looks like public infrastructure awareness is going up, and in our case must be raised to a level where citizens understand their health and quality of life depend on water infrastructure investment and are willing to support it. This is our BIG opportunity as water quality professionals to work to build public understanding of water’s value, its connection to public health, and the vital need for resources to support smart, sustainable management of the water environment.

“Water Is Life, and Infrastructure Makes It Happens™” can help us strike while the proverbial iron is hot. Initiated by WEF with support from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies (NACWA), Water Is Life at www.WaterIsLife.net is a program designed to mobilize grass roots support by providing utilities with professional outreach tools including brochures and bill stuffers, ads and public service announcements, webcasts, and much, much more. For example, in Spartanburg, infrastructure education, including Water Is Life materials, have helped us engage in ongoing community discussions and attract media attention to our water infrastructure issues.

The centerpiece of Water Is Life’s 2008-09 program is “Liquid Assets: The Story of Water Infrastructure,” a $1 million documentary project produced by Penn State Public Broadcasting that examines the critical role water infrastructure plays in protecting public health and promoting economic livability. You might be interested to know that WEF provided financial support to this important project and is working with NACWA, the American Society of Civil Engineers, and others to increase viewership of the program and build local coalitions to create one voice for water infrastructure.

The program is airing around the country (check the latest schedule), and I’d encourage all of you waterbloggers to contact your local PBS station, request airings in your communities, and do everything you can to spread the word. I’d also appreciate any comments or additional thoughts about today’s column, so feel free to blog away!