BLOG: Groundwater Fly-In

If you don't speak up for groundwater, who will?

Let your voice be heard and take advantage of the opportunity to talk with elected officials in Washington about groundwater issues at the 2019 NGWA Groundwater Fly-In and Water Resources Congressional Summit March 5-6, 2019.

Working together with the Irrigation Association and the Water Quality Association, the Fly-In will increase the water industry's profile on Capitol Hill regarding the availability, quality, and safety of our nation's water resources. It will help make members of Congress aware of the important role groundwater plays in providing drinking water, supporting agriculture, and fueling various sectors of the economy.

The current government shutdown shouldn't have an impact on the Fly-In, as Congress is still in session each week so meetings with congressional delegations will go on as scheduled. If the shutdown remains ongoing or begins again, the agenda for the policy briefing could be affected as officials from the administration are invited.

This year's groundwater focus topics include:

• Obtaining federal support for the detection and remediation of PFAS contamination
• Increasing efforts to promote groundwater recharge
• Bolstering support for drinking water infrastructure improvement.

The Fly-In will open on March 5 with a keynote luncheon, followed by congressional and policy speakers, an NGWA policy briefing, and a reception. On March 6, the day will start with an informal breakfast, then meetings on Capitol Hill throughout the day (the schedule for meetings will vary based on congressional availability), closing with an optional happy hour with Fly-In participants.

Make sure your voice is heard - register today!

BLOG: Imagine a Day Without Water

It can be easy to forget that some issues we all care about cut across political and geographic lines. Constituents may have different opinions on health care and tax reform, but when it comes to our daily lives, voters have a lot in common. They get up in the morning and brush their teeth, use the bathroom, and make coffee. They shower, do their laundry, and wash the dishes. But none of which would be possible without safe and reliable water infrastructure.

If you’ve never experienced it before, it’s hard to imagine a day without water. Most citizens recognize that water is essential to our quality of life. In fact, the vast majority of Americans, across parties and regions, want the government to invest in our water infrastructure. The data shows 88 percent of Americans support increasing federal investment to rebuild water infrastructure, and 75 percent of Americans want Congress to be proactive and invest in our nation’s water infrastructure before our systems fail.

Renewed investment in our water infrastructure isn't only about avoiding a day without water for personal use. A day without water would mean havoc for businesses and our economy too. Basically, every business is a water reliant business in one way or another.

According to the Value of Water Campaign’s report on The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure, a one-day disruption in water services at a national level would result in a $43.5 billion daily sales loss to businesses.

Unfortunately, investment in water infrastructure has not been a priority for decades. Federal investment has declined precipitously, leaving states, localities, water utilities, and people who pay water bills to make up the difference. Meanwhile, our systems are crumbling. The US government is currently funding $82 billion less than what is needed to maintain our water infrastructure, putting our health, safety, economy, and environment at risk.

So, what can we do about it?

October 10 is Imagine a Day Without Water, a national day of action to raise awareness about the value of water. We have the opportunity to leverage our collective power, educate our decision makers, and inspire our communities to put water infrastructure on the agenda.

No matter what the cause, a day without water is a public health and environmental crisis. That’s why groups across the country ask people to Imagine a Day Without Water to educate our communities on the value of water. No community can thrive without water, and every American deserves a safe, reliable, accessible water services. Let's invest in our water systems now, so no American ever has to imagine a day – or live a day – without water again.