Water: Sustainable Infrastructure
The Benefits of Supporting Sustainable Water Infrastructure
"When the well's dry, we know the worth of water."—Benjamin Franklin
It is hard for us to imagine a world without safe drinking water delivered to our taps and wastewater smoothly taken away and treated. The benefits of these systems are so expected that in some ways we have come to take them for granted. It is often only when that infrastructure fails that we pause to realize how much we depend on it.
Effective water infrastructure benefits the community in many ways.
Quality of Life Benefits:
- Effective water infrastructure systems help safeguard public health from waterborne and sewage-related infectious bacteria, viruses, parasites, and toxic chemicals.
- By placing water infrastructure on a sustainable path, local officials leave a lasting legacy of community well-being that can be passed on to future generations.
- A secure, reliable water infrastructure system and a well-thought-out plan for the future are essential to sustaining growth and business investment in a community.
- A solid, sustainable water infrastructure approach can result in better bond ratings that help the community when it needs financing.
- Effective stormwater and wastewater practices protect industries such as fishing, tourism, and recreation.
- Cities and communities across the country showcase their waterfront areas and continued commitment to clean water through effective infrastructure, which is critical to new development and related commerce.
- Maximizing the value of each infrastructure dollar spent keeps user rate increases under control and helps justify when rates do need to be increased. Customers cannot and should not be asked to pay for inefficiency.
- When infrastructure is not managed sustainably, we see increases in pollution in our waterways that are harmful to wildlife and the ecosystem.
- Adoption of more efficient management practices can greatly reduce water and energy usage, leading to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions and a reduced strain on natural resources.
- Sustainable water infrastructure helps ensure that community natural resources and open spaces will be available and unchanged for use and enjoyment by future generations.