Can you imagine a day without water? 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 do just that, recognizing that an investment in drinking water and wastewater systems is essential to health, safety and economic prosperity.

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 of investments in water systems, said Issaquah Mayor Fred Butler, chair of Cascade. Cascade has been studying the need for resiliency, focusing on long term ability to deliver water following events like an earthquake or the recent hurricanes in Texas and Florida. Imagine all that water there, and not a drop to drink. Imagine how severely these events stress local water systems. Along with other water providers locally and 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 water infrastructure.

“A single nationwide day without water service would put $43.5 billion of economic activity at risk. In eight days without water, nearly two million jobs would be in jeopardy,” Butler said in a press release.

Cascade locally has almost 300,000 connections to its water systems with 1,600 miles of pipes, 60 pump stations, 25 wells, 11 treatment facilities and 25,000 fire hydrants serving its communities. It and its members ensure safe, reliable, clean drinking water to more than 350,000 residents and 20,000 businesses each day.

“We work hard to make sure that when you turn on your tap, clean, safe and delicious water is always available,” Cascade CEO Chuck Clarke said in a press release. “Cascade and its members are constantly investing in its infrastructure maintained by our members’ highly trained technical staffs. Our great water is treated and regularly tested to ensure the highest quality. In addition, Cascade members bring you that water with the highest level of reliable quality service.”

“We want to make sure that no one in our region and in any American community is left without safe reliable water,” Butler said in a press release.