The Value of Water Campaign marked the fifth annual Infrastructure Week (May 15-19) by releasing results of a new poll and leading events that highlight the importance of water infrastructure.

A new poll commissioned by the Value of Water Campaign found that more than any other issue, Americans want Congress and the Trump Administration to prioritize infrastructure. Of those polled, 67 percent said rebuilding America's infrastructure should be an extremely or very important focus — more support than every other issue tested. The poll also found that 82 percent of Americans said rebuilding water systems, specifically, was extremely or very important.

"We are proud to be on the steering committee for Infrastructure Week again, and encouraged by the increased public awareness that investing in all types of infrastructure absolutely must be a priority for our policymakers,” says Radhika Fox, executive director of the Value of Water Campaign and CEO of the US Water Alliance. “And thanks to our campaign supporters, there are events happening in communities across the country this week to pull back the curtain on often out-of-sight drinking water and wastewater systems so the public can better appreciate why those pipes, plants, and pumps are worthy of investment."

Monday in Washington, D.C., DC Water CEO and General Manager George Hawkins spoke at the Infrastructure Week kickoff event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, along with U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, CEOs and labor leaders.

Other events being hosted by Value of Water Campaign supporters this week include:

• The Great Water Cities Summit 2017: Invest4Resilience was hosted by the Water Environment Federation on Monday and Tuesday in New York City. It provided a forum for leaders from Wall Street to Main Streets around the United States and the world to share their vision, experience and expertise in how they are investing in their communities and making them more resilient.
• On Tuesday, the Value of Water Campaign, National League of Cities, and World Resources Institute held “Resilient Water Management: Strengthening Communities & Growing Economies,” a panel discussion in Washington, D.C., featuring 10 government and business leaders who are adopting sustainable water practices to improve water infrastructure and secure the resilience of their communities.
• Today the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is hosting a Sewer University course, focused on green infrastructure. Attendees are gathering at the Cleveland Metroparks Watershed Stewardship Center for a presentation on the history of sewers and clean water in the region with special emphasis on green infrastructure, its benefits and challenges, and how it's contributing to a clean-water future. Following the presentation, guests are touring the stormwater management features in action across the Stewardship Center grounds. On Thursday, the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District is giving public tours of its treatment facilities.
• On Saturday, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago is holding an open house and tour of its five water reclamation plants to celebrate Infrastructure Week.