Imagine a Day Without Water

On October 17, people across the globe added their voices to the movement highlighting the true value of water in our lives.

Imagine a Day Without Water turned 10 in 2024! Over last decade, we’ve seen some key changes in the way our 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 our most precious resource. Though we’ve come a long way, there’s still much progress to be made—which is where you come in.

Everyone has a stake in the future of our nation’s water. For this milestone year, we asked: what’s your drop in the bucket? When we collectively raise our voices to acknowledge the critical role water plays in every aspect of our lives, our bucket overflows.

10 Resources for 10 Years!

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Why “Imagine a Day Without Water?”

Water is the most essential source of human life. It hydrates us, keeps us healthy, and cleans our bodies. Water sustains global food systems, economies, and environments. Without it, our families and communities cannot thrive. Its value is impossible to quantify, yet it is incumbent on us not only to recognize the true value of water in our lives but to raise our collective voices to advocate for water investment.

As a nation, we face a myriad of water challenges today. Much of our water infrastructure is more than 100 years old, and the impacts of aging and un-repaired pipes are evident in communities everywhere—in fact, a water main breaks every two minutes somewhere in this country. We increasingly feel the effects of climate change through water, whether it be scarcity or overabundance. And, though not well known, over two million Americans still lack the dignity of access to water and wastewater services.

The way we currently fund water—almost exclusively by local ratepayers—cannot sustain our 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 our nation. While significant, it will only address a fraction of our water needs: our recent economic impact report found that the water investment gap in 2024 alone is $91 billion.

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.

Together, our voices have the power to make waves of change. 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.

Stay tuned for information about Imagine a Day Without Water 2025!