Woodlands Water encourages local residents to mark ‘Imagine a Day Without Water’ Oct. 17

THE WOODLANDS, TX – Ten years ago, the US Water Alliance, a national membership organization advancing policies and programs to secure a sustainable One Water future for all, instituted ‘Imagine a Day Without Water’ as a national movement highlighting the true value of water in the lives of people. Woodlands Water is marking this tenth anniversary on October 17 and encourages its customer base to join it.

“As we approach Imagine a Day Without Water this year, let’s not lose sight of the purpose behind this event: to gather with those far and wide in appreciation of our most critical resource, with the hope that our collective recognition fosters more support and funding for water services and the people who provide them,” said agency representatives in a statement.

According to the Alliance, over last decade, Texans have seen some key changes in the way the nation values water, reflected in the historic federal investment in water through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, increased incentives to develop water systems that alleviate climate impacts and promote sustainability, and a stronger commitment to building equitable water systems so all can access the planet’s most precious resource.

The way water is currently funded – almost exclusively by local ratepayers – cannot sustain current systems or provide for necessary upgrades. The $55 billion allocated for water through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law represents the single largest investment in water in the history of the nation. While significant, it will only address a fraction of water needs: the Alliance’s recent economic impact report found that the water investment gap in 2024 alone is $91 billion.

The nation faces a myriad of water challenges today. Much of the water infrastructure is more than 100 years old, and the impacts of aging and unrepaired pipes are evident in communities everywhere – in fact, a water main breaks every two minutes somewhere in this country. Additionally, and though not well known, an excess of two million Americans still lack the dignity of access to water and wastewater services.

Despite these challenges, there is good news: people across our country care about water. The 2024 Value of Water Index found that 88 percent of all American voters believe that access to safe and reliable water is a top priority, a belief that crosses geographic and political boundaries. There also is broad bipartisan support for more federal investment to improve our nation’s water infrastructure.

“Imagine a Day Without Water unites individuals, communities, and policymakers to advance greater and more equitable investment in water. In this pivotal election year, the time is ripe to raise our voices in support of the awareness, action, and investment necessary to ensure a healthy water future for all,” said the Alliance in a statement.