1. Thank you for the kind introduction and the opportunity to present this program called Water is Life, and Infrastructure Makes It Happen.
Again, my name is (fill in) and I work at (or represent) (fill in).
I’m here today to talk about the importance of something we often take for granted – the systems that provide our community with abundant, safe drinking water and environmentally safe wastewater treatment.
Today, America’s water and waste water systems in general are severely challenged by aging and deteriorating pipes and facilities, ever-increasing demand, and tighter budgets.
The vast majority of the nation’s pipe network was installed after World War II, and is now reaching the end of its useful life and must be replaced.
I’d like to share with you the national issues and then provide our communities state of infrastructure and the need for reinvestment in this life line to clean water and a healthy environment.

2. …. Water IS Life Water is essential to our health, our economy
and our environment.
Just to begin…. I propose to you that ..Water IS life.
Water is important to us here in ________ and to all Americans for several key reasons: our public health, our economy, and our environment.
And, Clean water supports our quality of life.
As a matter of fact, beaches are the top vacation destination in the United States and swimming is the second most popular leisure activity.
In our community/state, water-based recreation… [Presenter: insert information about the local water-based recreation]

3. Water Is Precious Managed for sustainably, water is a
70% of Earth is covered by water, but only 1% of this is accessible freshwater.
Managed for
sustainably, water is a
renewable resource.
Water is life, and it is a precious resource too.
It’s easy to take water for granted – it covers 70 percent of the Earth’s surface, yet accessible fresh water makes up less than one percent of the world’s total supply.
You probably know the same water that has always been on earth is still the water we use today. It is just always in some form of being recycled. Pipes and pumps deliver water to our homes and businesses. Wastewater systems collect, clean and return our used water to the environment, to be used again, and again.

4. Water Infrastructure & Public Health
Clean, safe water is
crucial for human health.
Drinking water
treatment has virtually
eliminated waterborne
diseases and increased life expectancy in the U.S. by 30 years.
The U.S. EPA sets standards for 80 water contaminants.
I mentioned four areas where clean water is critical…. Public health, our economy, our environment and our quality of life.
First, let’s talk about public health.
Since the development of public water systems – including both fresh water and wastewater treatment facilities – around the turn of the last century, we’ve seen a significant decline in water-related death and illness, a stunning increase in longevity and an improvement in public health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) credits treatment of drinking water in the United States since 1900 for the virtual elimination of waterborne diseases such as typhoid, cholera and hepatitis A and helping to increase average life expectancy by nearly 30 years.
Sadly, we often are reminded of the health benefits during the rare occasions when water systems fail – as in Milwaukee in 1993, when cryptosporidium entered the water supply, sickened 400,000 people and led to more than 50 deaths.
EPA sets the clean water standards, and that’s why here in the US, we strongly support both the SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT for drinking water safety and the CLEAN WATER ACT that protects our streams and groundwater by requiring pollution controls and wastewater treatment.

5. Water Infrastructure & Public Health
In the United States, we’ve come to expect clean tap water for drinking and bathing.
Today most Americans can turn on the tap and expect clear, clean water. We use it for hundred of things, and we have become to trust that it will be there for all our uses.
To continue to serve the nation, America’s drinking water and wastewater systems must be carefully managed, maintained and enhanced.
Here in (community) we treat YYY gallons daily at our plants in (locations).

6. Water Infrastructure & Public Health
We flush our toilets and drain our sinks, showers, bath tubs & dishwashers.
And, today most Americans can flush our toilets and drain our sinks, and our showers and bath tubs, and run our dishwashers without giving it a second thought.
We may not know where that dirty water goes….
But, we know we don’t have to deal with it anymore.
That’s not so in many other countries.
1.8 million people die every year from diarrhoeal diseases (including cholera); 90% are children under 5, mostly in developing countries. 88% of diarrhoeal disease is attributed to unsafe water supply, inadequate sanitation and hygiene. (Source: Water for People)
In the US, more than 16,000 wastewater treatment systems collect and clean our used water and make it safe to return to nature.

7. Water & Wastewater Infrastructure Systems Serve America
Drinking Water Systems:
54,000 drinking water systems
800,000 miles of pipe
Provided to 250 million
individuals
Wastewater Treatment Systems:
16,000 water treatment systems
800,000 miles of sewer line
Processed from 160 million individuals
Our clean water and wastewater treatment systems are essential to provide the water and water treatment Americans need every day.
America and [your community] depend on two types of water systems.
The first treats our fresh water supplies, making water safe to drink.
Most water systems are small percent of the systems serve populations of under 4,000, but the majority of Americans are served by municipal systems in our nation’s larger cities.
54,000 drinking water systems provide water to 250M Americans through 800,000 miles of pipe.
Here in (community), we provide YYY gallons daily from our plants at (locations).
16,000 water treatment systems process wastewater from 160M Americans, relying on nearly 800,000 miles of sewer line
Here is (community), we collect and clean ZZZ million gallons of wastewater per day from ZZZ miles of sewer pipe.

8. Infrastructure & Economic Growth
Clean Water Supports:
$50 billion/year recreation industry
$300 billion in coastal tourism
$45 billion in commercial seafood,
fishing, and US agriculture.
All development depends on clean water and wastewater treatment.
Clean water and wastewater treatment are essential to economic growth.
There can be no local development activity without first ensuring adequate clean water and wastewater treatment.
Imagine the difficulties in obtaining approval for a new factory, school or retail space unless there was both an adequate supply of water and sufficient capacity to treat wastewater.
Clean water also supports a $50 billion per year recreation industry, $300 billion a year in coastal tourism, $45 billion per year in commercial seafood and fishing and all of U.S. agriculture.
Nationally, clean water supports billions of dollars in recreation, tourism, and commercial seafood and fishing and all of US agriculture as the slide shows.

9. Infrastructure & Our Economy
Water is also crucial for our economy as it relates to the creation of jobs as well.
Water is used in almost all processes including: fabrication, processing, washing and cooling in industries as varied as power generation, steel, mining, manufacturing and high technology.
By providing safe, abundant water, America’s public water systems impact nearly every sector of the economy
Presenter: Here in (community) water resources helped fuel growth in (name local developments, or industries).
America’s public water systems impact nearly every sector of the economy.

10. Wastewater Infrastructure & the Environment
Each year, 50
million tons of
pollutants are
prevented from
reaching America’s
coasts, lakes and waterways due to wastewater treatment plants.
Finally, water and our ability to treat it are crucial for protecting the environment.
Wastewater treatment plants prevent millions of tons of pollutants from reaching America’s rivers, streams, lakes and coastlines, and protecting the environment including wetlands, farms, wildlife habitat and natural bodies of water.

11. Wastewater Infrastructure & the Environment
7 million dry tons of biosolids
recycled
yearly.
We recycle the solids -- called biosolids. These are the nutrient-rich organic materials from the treatment of our domestic sewage. The biosolids are considered a beneficial resource that contains essential plant nutrients and can be recycled as a fertilizer and soil amendment.
In the US, biosolids must be treated to meet EPA’s regulatory requirements.
EPA estimates that more than 7 million dry tons of solids are generated annually from 16,000 wastewater treatment facilities.
[Presenter: Here in (community) X dry tons are ……..]

12. Wastewater Infrastructure & the Environment
Once treated, our wastewater returns
to these sources
to be used over
and over again.
Because our drinking water comes from lakes, rivers, streams, and underground aquifers, we must clean wastewater to appropriate standards to protect not only public health, but our environment as well.
Our wastewater, once treated, returns to these sources; this means wastewater is a valuable asset that must be well-managed

13. Natural Infrastructure Systems
Infrastructure includes
- wetlands
- retention ponds
- “green” systems
Infrastructure also includes natural solutions to managing and cleaning stormwater such as constructed wetlands and retention ponds where plants and soil filter pollutants from street and building runoff.
These ‘green’ infrastructure systems can be overburdened as well and many need to be improved and expanded.

14. So What’s the Problem?
“In 10 years, water pollution levels may deteriorate to those observed in the 1970s if we do not invest in our infrastructure.”
U. S. EPA (2004 Gap Analysis)
So, what’s the problem?????
Our need to reinvest in our water and wastewater infrastructure.
The investment made by a visionary generation of leaders in building water and wastewater infrastructure transformed our society.
The level of investment by government bodies in maintaining water and wastewater infrastructure has declined dramatically since then.
Water and sewer rates aren’t always reflective of the true cost of service.
We are faced with costly infrastructure upgrades to address aging infrastructure, regulatory requirements, and increased demand to serve growing populations.
The EPA reports that by 2016 water pollution levels may increase to those observed in the 1970s if we do not invest in our infrastructure. Examples of infrastructure are all around us and below – reservoirs, pipes, pumps, stormwater basins, sewers, and treatment plants.

15. America’s Infrastructure Systems Need Attention
Water and wastewater pipes and plants will soon need to be replaced.
New water and wastewater treatment plants will be required.
Here in (community) and in many cities across the nation, these systems are in need of repair, expansion or improvement if we are to meet 21st Century water needs.
Much of the nation’s water and wastewater pipe and plants will have to be replaced in the next years.
New water and wastewater treatment plants will be required to replace aging facilities and provide service to growing regions of the country
This will require
new technologies,
state-of-the-art construction methods
Natural methods such as green infrastructure
Innovative water treatment approaches
The reality is that there is a growing gap between revenue utilities receive from local ratepayers and taxes and long-term investment needs.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that for the years 2000 to 2019, annual costs for infrastructure investment will average between $11.6 billion and $20.1 billion for drinking water systems and between $13.0 billion and $20.9 billion for wastewater systems.
So, the projected needs range from $485 billion to nearly $1.2 trillion.

16. Replacing & renewing…. Is a big task Requires short-term
and long-range planning
Takes reinvestment
But, keeping up with the needs of our growing population and the costs of our aging infrastructure is a formidable task.
Many of the collections system and treatment plants in our community were built in the early 1900s (Presenter: replace facts as appropriate)
Here in (community) our water and wastewater plants at (locations) will require replacement or significant upgrade by the year 20XX.
(Presenter: Add city/community story here… reasons sewer built, when they were constructed, etc.
Change out the photo if you have applicable ones. Tell problems with infrastructure here)
More Facts you could use if time permits:
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) cites a rule of thumb that sewer lines have a useful life of 50 years (although lifetimes can be significantly longer, depending on maintenance and local conditions.) So the clock is ticking.
CBO estimates many rural and urban systems lose 20 percent or more of the water they produce through leaks in their pipes.
The General Accounting Office (GAO) reported that one-third of the nation’s large water systems had 20 percent of their pipeline nearing replacement age, and for one-tenth of the large systems, fully 50 percent of their pipe was at or near replacement age.
By 2030, the average drinking water utility will have to spend about three and a half times as much on pipe replacement due to wear out than it does today….will also spend three times as much on repairs in that year as it spends today, as pipes get older and more prone to breakage.

17. The Current Federal Role
Financial Assistance
Regulatory Requirements
Federal Water Laws
Clean Water Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Most funding for drinking water and wastewater services comes from local ratepayers and taxpayers.
Without federal money being available such as it was in the early 1970s, we are left to make the replacements and repairs and upgrades ourselves.
Washington, DC provides only limited financial assistant to build new facilities, yet sets new regulatory requirements for water quality consistently.
Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act are key federal water laws.
Most funding for drinking water and wastewater services comes from local ratepayers and taxpayer.
We can’t wait for federal and/or state money to come along; we must have a plan that begins reinvesting.

18. Your Service Providers Role
24/7 operation
X employees
X treatment plants
X miles of
water/sewer pipe
Our community leaders have done their part, but now the needs are greater (Presenter: adjust this transition accordingly)
Here in ____, we have ________ employees who are the professionals who manage the collections and cleaning of your wastewater, and the cleaning and delivery of your drinking water supply (presenter…adjust roles as appropriate)
We are on the job 24/7.
We …. (presenter…. This is your space to highlight your roles and the quality job you do, how long you’ve done it, how many plants, how many miles of systems, any significant awards, show photos of your people doing their jobs)

19. How Can You Help?
Be Informed of the water and wastewater needs of your community.
Support reinvestments
as utility rates rise.
Participate in water
related programs available in your community.
We must invest in innovative solutions with new technologies to rebuild and expand these deteriorating water and wastewater systems to meet the needs of our communities both today and in the future.
These investments are long-term and expensive, so meeting the challenges ahead requires a new partnership in which utilities, governments, citizens, businesses and community organizations all have important roles.
We must all understand the scope of the issues and that failing to maintain and improve our water systems poses risks for public health, the economy and the environment.
As citizens, we must encourage and support local, state and federal leaders who address our water system needs and are willing to look for solutions.
We cannot remain complacent – there’s too much at stake.
So, how can you help?
Learn more about local plans to meet the water and wastewater need of your community.
Participate in water conservation, water reuse and water efficiency programs
Contact your local utility to find our how you can become involved in the solution.

20. How Can You Help? Speak up and out about reinvesting.
Take a tour of your
local utilities.
Do not take water
for granted.
Take a tour of our treatment facilities and see for yourself how water is cleaned.
Speak Out - We are stewards of a national treasure...
Support reinvestments as utility rates rise to pay for our reinvestment.
It is easy to take water for granted, but we must not.
Thank audience for their time and letting you share your concerns.

21. For More Information Visit… www.WaterIsLife.net
For more information, visit the Water is Life, and Infrastructure Makes it Happen website where a variety of user friendly information can be found.
Thank audience again and open the floor up to questions, concerns, etc.