A water main breaks in the U.S. every two minutes; one in three water sector employees will be eligible to retire by 2033; and each year 1.7 trillion gallons of drinking water is lost to faulty, aging, or leaky pipes. These are some of the key statistics that “The Value of Water Campaign” champions, aiming to educate and inspire Americans about water infrastructure needs. The initiative was launched in 2015 by the U.S. Water Alliance and its partners.
To understand the funding demands at the state and federal level, the Campaign developed a report, “The Economic Benefits of Investing in Water Infrastructure.” The analysis underpins the overall campaign, evaluating the risks and opportunities of investing in drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems. It provides insights into the scale of funding needs and gaps, workforce patterns, and economic impacts. The report finds that investing in water is a high-return choice — for every $1 million invested in water infrastructure, it generates $2.5 million in economic output and $1.4 million in GDP.
To break down the findings further, the report resources webpage includes topical fact sheets on key industries, manufacturing, rural America, and the workforce, as well as state-by-state fact sheets. Each fact sheet details the state’s annual infrastructure funding needs, disparities, and the consequences of inaction and economic potential by sector. For example, if water services are disrupted, industries such as accommodation and food services, human health activities and real estate could expect to see daily losses in revenue. Conversely, investing in water infrastructure strengthens sectors such as construction, professional and technical services, real estate, and manufacturing.
Another Campaign effort includes tapping into public opinion. Through bipartisan polling of 1,000 voters, The Value of Water Index sheds light on how Americans across the country view the state of our water systems. Last conducted in 2025 — the 10th iteration of this poll — it found broad support for reliable water access and continued federal funding for related infrastructure. This information is used by elected officials, policymakers and industry leaders.
Additionally, in mid-October the Campaign hosts Imagine a Day Without Water, an event to celebrate and raise awareness of the many ways clean water touches everyday lives. For more than 10 years, the day has engaged community advocates, policymakers, businesses, industry leaders, and educators to communicate the vital role water plays in our life and the need to invest in this resource. An online toolkit includes activities and worksheets, signage and posters, a plethora of customizable social media templates, outreach emails, learning tools for educators, and a proclamation template for local elected officials. In 2024, the day reached more than 12 million people around the world, according to their website; this year’s event is scheduled for October 15.
The Value of Water Campaign offers a second activation: United for Water. This broad coalition focuses on sustained investment to close the annual $91 billion national water infrastructure investment gap reported in the May 2024 publication, “Bridging the Gap: The Power of Investment in Water.” United for Water is an ongoing effort with more than 210 signatories.
From supporting public health to employment growth to economic benefits, “The Value of Water Campaign” provides a multi-pronged analysis of why the time is ripe to invest in water infrastructure, while coupled with easy-to-use key messages and outreach materials.