The Value Of Water Coalition Announces Infrastructure Week 2016

Water agencies join groups around the nation to address America's deferred maintenance crisis, highlight lack of investment in infrastructure as a threat to public health and safety, jobs, and economic growth.

The Value of Water Coalition recently announced that it will play a leading role in Infrastructure Week 2016, which will be May 16-23. During Infrastructure Week, local, state, and federal leaders will sound the alarm bell that our economy, jobs, and public health and safety are being threatened by a failure to invest in the maintenance and modernization of our nation's infrastructure. A broad coalition of business, labor, and government groups will highlight how specific gaps in our infrastructure--from failing water and gas pipes to deteriorating dams, bridges and highways, and public transit systems--matter to all Americans. And, critically, what we need to do to fix these crises before more people, communities, and the economy suffer.

Across the country, cities are putting infrastructure dollars to work and putting shovels in the ground to revitalize water and wastewater systems. To celebrate and spotlight innovative solutions to the nation's water infrastructure crisis, members of the Value of Water Coalition are hosting a Local Innovators Tour across the country during Infrastructure Week. Participating cities will tell the story about why water infrastructure matters to their communities and the nation, and show how they are securing a sustainable water future.

Cleveland, Ohio
Wednesday, May 11 through Monday, May 23

A series of events hosted by Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District includes "Someone forgot to Pay America's Water Infrastructure Bill" program, an up close and personal sewer walk for media, green infrastructure tour for elected officials and social/traditional media, and "Sewer U" seminar series open to the general public.

Camden, New Jersey
Tuesday, May 17 - 11am

Press event hosted by American Water and the City of Camden to announce a major milestone in a public-private partnership to improve water and wastewater services, and provide workforce training and skill development in the community. 

Alexandria, Virginia
Tuesday, May 17 and Thursday, May 19

Exclusive behind-the-scenes tours for press and elected officials of how Alexandria Renew Enterprises transforms 13 billion gallons of wastewater each year into reclaimed water, clean energy and nutrient-rich soil amendment. The tour will also preview the new LEED Platinum Environmental Center and innovative nutrient management facility and adjacent athletic field, the only one of its kind in the country.

Chicago, Illinois
Saturday, May 21 - 9am-Noon

A day of open houses is scheduled at six of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago's (MWRD) six water treatment plants across the Chicago region. The MWRD will be offering visitors an exclusive look at its plant operations and also promoting stormwater management practices by giving away hundreds of free potted oak tree saplings to restore the region's depleted canopy and help reduce flooding.

Los Angeles, California
Date/Time TBA

Public tour of the Donald C. Tillman Water Reclamation Plant, hosted by LA Sanitation, will spotlight a new advanced water purification facility used to purify recycled water for non-drinking purposes, a significant step toward meeting Mayor Garcetti's goals of reducing the city's reliance on imported water by 50% by 2024.

For more information about these events, visit the thevalueofwater.org. Members of the media interested in accompanying the tour at one or more stops should contact Abigail Gardner (agardner@thevalueofwater.org).

Infrastructure Week 2016 is led by a steering committee consisting of the AFL-CIO, the American Society of Civil Engineers, Building America's Future, Brookings Institution's Metropolitan Policy Program, the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the Value of Water Coalition.

For more information, visit www.infrastructureweek.org.

About Value of Water Coalition
The Value of Water Coalition educates and inspires people about how water is essential, invaluable, and needs investment. The Coalition has come together to advance positive solutions to our nation's pressing water challenges. Members include: Alexandria Renew Enterprises, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Water, American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, Atlanta Department of Watershed Management, Black and Veatch, Brown and Caldwell, Camden County Municipal Utilities Authority, CH2M, DC Water, Dow Chemical Company, Hampton Roads Sanitation District, Hazen and Sawyer, Kansas City Water Services, LA Sanitation, Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, MWH Global, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, Philadelphia Water Department, Plumbing Manufacturers International, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Suez, US Water Alliance, Veolia, WateReuse, Water Environment Federation, and Xylem, Inc. For more information, visit www.thevalueofwater.org.