By Fred Butler

Imagine a day without water.

Imagine getting up, showering, brushing your teeth, having coffee, eating at restaurants, and visiting the doctor or a business that uses water in its activities – but imagine it all without water.

When our residents they turn on the tap, they expect clean, safe and reliable water, and that is what we at the Cascade Water alliance deliver to our 350,000 residents and 20,000 businesses every day.

Recognizing that an investment in our drinking water and wastewater systems is essential to our health, safety and economic prosperity, Cascade Water Alliance and its members — Bellevue, Issaquah, Kirkland, Redmond, Tukwila, Sammamish Plateau Water and the Skyway Water and Sewer District — are asking its residents to imagine such a day.

Cascade is part of the national “Imagine a Day Without Water” effort on Oct. 12 to highlight the issue of aging water infrastructure and the need for investments in water systems. Cascade has been studying the need for resiliency, focusing on our long-term ability to deliver water following events like an earthquake or the recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida. Imagine all that water, and not a drop to drink.

Imagine how severely these events stress local water systems. Along with other water providers across the country, Cascade is promoting education and advocacy about the value of water to raise awareness about the crucial need for investment in the nation’s water infrastructure.

A single day without water service nationwide would put $43.5 billion of economic activity at risk. In eight days without water, nearly two million jobs would be in jeopardy. Locally, it would have a drastic impact.

Our Cascade partnership ensures safe, reliable, clean drinking water to our water systems through 1,600 miles of pipes, 60 pump stations, 25 wells, 11 treatment facilities and 25,000 fire hydrants serving Cascade’s member communities.

We work hard to make sure than when you turn on your taps, clean, safe and delicious water is always available, and our members have consistently invested in its infrastructure.

In addition, we want to ensure than no American community is left without safe reliable water. We, along with other water providers across the country, are participating in the “Imagine a Day without Water” to raise awareness about the crucial need for investment in our nation’s water infrastructure.

So today, as you turn on your tap, think about the water that comes to your home or business and how essential it is to your day to day life. And then, imagine a day without it.

For more information on your utility or Cascade Water Alliance, visit www.cascadewater.org

Fred Butler is the mayor of Issaquah and the Cascade Water Alliance chiar.