Day without water? Yuma raises awareness

City joins campaign to promote value of infrastructure

Yuma is joining a nationwide effort by other elected officials, water utilities, community leaders, educators and businesses to raise awareness about water and water infrastructure, here and across the nation.

Wednesday is 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 aimed at raising awareness about the crucial need for investment in water infrastructure.

The city has planned a series of posts on its official Facebook and Twitter accounts and devoted time during the Oct. 4 edition of its weekly radio show “City News Thursday” to the discussion of water infrastructure and the condition of municipal water in the city.

“As we did last year, we’re asking people to think about simple things, like not being able to brush your teeth, not having water to make ice or not having coffee in the morning,” Utilities Director Jay Simonton said. “While we’re proud of the quality and reliability of City of Yuma water service, it takes a substantial amount of people and effort. Our facilities operate every hour of every day. They don’t get Christmas off. They need to be maintained and upgraded regularly.”

Water infrastructure is aging and in need of investment. Drought, flooding and population changes have placed stress water and wastewater systems across the U.S. A single nationwide day without water service would put $43.5 billion of economic activity at risk, according to a study done by the Value of Water Campaign.

Also, the survey found that in just eight days, a national water service stoppage would put nearly two million U.S. jobs in jeopardy. Many of these challenges are regionally specific and require local solutions. But making reinvestment a national priority would help as well.

This year, Imagine a Day Without Water falls just weeks before the 2018 midterm elections. Knowing where federal, state and local candidates stand on water infrastructure investment may ensure no American has to live a day without water.

“We’re thrilled that the City of Yuma 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.”