For too long the national discussion about infrastructure has sounded just like that classic movie with Steve Martin and John Candy – Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.

But the tireless efforts of our sector, the Water Environment Federation (WEF), and each of you to call attention to water infrastructure has brought it from an afterthought to a central part of the conversation. Part of this change is also due to the work of the Value of Water Campaign (VOW), of which WEF is a founding and active member.

A breakthrough moment occurred on February 16 in Las Vegas, where several of the presidential candidates gathered for Moving America Forward, a forum on infrastructure featuring moderators from the Wall Street Journal. 

I had the privilege of representing WEF at this event. The excitement was palpable as the audience, comprised of people from across the infrastructure spectrum, was going to hear candidates discuss their favorite topics such as airports, highways, ports, and power grids. I was very curious to hear their perspectives and points on water infrastructure and its role in public works, communities, and the economy.

The participating candidates were Vice President Joe Biden, businessman and philanthropist Tom Steyer, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, and Senator Amy Klobuchar. Each spent about 20 minutes answering questions from the moderator. Green infrastructure, water reuse, and water quality regulations were some of the water topics that came up. They all discussed the need for increasing investment in water infrastructure and the need to both fix aging systems and adopt new technologies to increase climate resilience.

On social media, the Forum generated a lot of buzz! The event hashtag, #MovingAmericaForward, had a reach of nearly 7 million, with over 20 million potential impressions. C-Span has already re-run the program 3 times, potentially reaching millions more.

Here are a few notable moments captured on Twitter:

If you would like to watch a replay of the forum visit https://infrastructureforum.org/watch/ and skip to where the event starts around the 17-minute mark.

While I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend this forum with presidential candidates, we can all engage to keep water infrastructure as a front burner issue for national leaders. Please consider joining us in Washington, D.C. for Water Week this April, when WEF members and many others from across the sector will gather to advocate to Congress and the Administration for important water policies and resources. I also encourage you to sign up for Water Advocates, a simple and effective way for you to become more involved with engaging elected officials and the public on important water issues.

Together we can ensure that water infrastructure remains a central part of the national dialogue, not just during election season, but every day.