On Capitol Hill today, water sector leaders from across the country invited policymakers to join in investing the hundreds of billions of dollars required to strengthen the nation’s water infrastructure – helping bolster America’s workforce and sharpen the nation’s competitive edge.

“When I am asked what businesses we support, I say, ‘All of them!’” said DC Water General Manager George S. Hawkins. “Restaurants, shops, offices, government agencies, hospitals, schools—all of them must have water and sewer to remain open. Further, we are reminded daily that our ecosystem depends on us doing our jobs and our infrastructure supporting the work to keep our waterways clean.”

Yet just last year, the American Society of Civil Engineers reported that U.S. water and wastewater systems are close to failing, giving the systems a “D” grade.

“It’s estimated that we need to spend more than $4.8 trillion over the next 20 years to fix and maintain the country’s current water systems and preserve existing service levels,” said Houston Mayor Annise Parker. “We need to join hands today and invest for tomorrow.”

The water industry is rising to the challenge. According to new research from the Water Research Foundation and the Water Environment Research Foundation, 30 of the large utilities from around the country will invest $233 billion over the next decade and generate more than half a trillion dollars in U.S. economic output.

Here in the District, DC Water’s operations and capital improvement plan investments contribute significantly to the local economy, in terms of both output and employment. DC Water’s estimated economic contribution to the region totals $13.1 billion over the next decade, supporting 7,090 jobs per year. In addition, DC Water is making a significant effort to employ local residents on its projects, ensuring our ratepayers receive multiple economic benefits from their investment in our system.

DC Water provides wastewater services to more than 2.2 million people across a service area of 725 square miles. The Authority also supplies 100 million gallons of drinking water per day through its water distribution system in the District.

Earlier this year, District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray joined other US mayors in signing a resolution that was adopted at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Annual Meeting in Dallas. The resolution called for a renewed partnership across sectors to accelerate investment in water infrastructure to drive job creation, economic growth, and to prepare communities to be resilient in the face of climate change.

“Neither industry nor government can do this alone,” said Susan Story, President and CEO of American Water. “In addition to the $230 billion spent by these 30 public utilities, American Water will invest more than $5 billion in the next five years in water infrastructure. Each sector plays a critical role.”

According to the study released today, the utilities are responsible for 36,500 high-quality, direct jobs that help workers enter the middle class and further grow American competitiveness. More than 289,000 permanent jobs will be supported annually over the next decade.

“Jobs in the water and wastewater industries can’t be outsourced; this is local work done by people living and working right in our communities,” said Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, co-chair of the Water Council of the U.S. Conference of Mayors. “These jobs offer competitive salaries as well as opportunities for training and advancement. Simply put: when water works, America works.”

The range of organizations participating in Washington today demonstrates the wide-spread recognition of the water sector’s economic importance. Today’s events are being co-hosted by: American Society of Civil Engineers, Building America’s Future, National Association of Counties, National League of Cities, National Urban League, U.S. Conference of Mayors, and the Value of Water Coalition (American Water, American Water Works Association, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, CH2M HILL, MWH Global, National Association of Clean Water Agencies, National Association of Water Companies, United Water, Veolia, Water Environment Federation, Xylem Inc., and U.S. Water Alliance)

The 30 surveyed utilities serve 83 million people across the nation—more than 25 percent of the total U.S. population.

For more information and to download the report, please visit: http://waterworkscampaign.org/