New York WEA Illustrates the Importance of Water and Wastewater Infrastructure

The New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) released a video showing water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) across the state while water sector leaders explain the importance of wastewater treatment for society. Photo courtesy of New York City Department of Environmental Protection and NYWEA.

While everyone uses water and wastewater infrastructure daily, not everyone knows exactly how it works and why it needs to be funded. The New York Water Environment Association (NYWEA) decided to illustrate the importance of this infrastructure to the public with a video and accompanying guide.

NYWEA’s messaging video and its guide, “Sustaining and Enhancing New York’s Clean Water,” provide background information on water and wastewater treatment and describe benefits from funding infrastructure that support these critical services.

The NYWEA public awareness video helps members educate citizens about the value of water and need to maintain infrastructure. Photo courtesy of NYWEA.

“There are thousands of professionals working every day to protect and enhance the quality of water in New York state,” said Paul McGarvey, NYWEA president. “NYWEA’s public awareness video and companion guide help shine a spotlight on the great work of current and past dedicated water professionals and the need to maintain our safe and reliable water infrastructure.” NYWEA, a Water Environment Federation (Alexandria, Va.) Member Association, released the materials to raise public awareness and start a dialogue about investing in water infrastructure, he said.

NYWEA also released the guide, “Sustaining and Enhancing New York’s Clean Water,” to provide additional information and resources to raise public awareness about the water sector. Photo courtesy of NYWEA.

In the video, water sector leaders explain the importance of wastewater treatment for human health, the environment, and the economy; provide a history of water and sanitation services; and describe progress being made toward providing these services and cleaning waterways. The guide offers additional details about these topics. Together, the resources work to present a holistic view of the value of clean water.

“Water is undervalued,” said Patricia Cerro-Reehil, NYWEA executive director. “To keep our water quality infrastructure safe and reliable, it will take investment, innovation, and, most importantly, public awareness at the national, state, and local levels.”

For more information about these resources, contact Cerro-Reehil at pcr@nywea.org.

— Jennifer Fulcher, WEF Highlights