Safety of drinking water tops list of water infrastructure concerns, PMI Survey finds

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL — The safety of drinking water tops the list of concerns relating to water infrastructure expressed by 1,000 respondents to a Google survey conducted by Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI).

While respondents expressed moderate concern about the state of local underground water infrastructure, 64.1 percent named drinking water safety as a concern, with 32.1 percent identifying public officials failing to address issues relating to water supply and safety as a worry. Following these two leading concerns were increased prices/taxes for improvements (identified by 29.1 percent), water main breaks (27.0 percent), and restrictions on water use due to drought (21.7 percent).

“PMI has begun advocacy efforts to create urgency behind the need to restore our national underground water infrastructure,” said Barbara C. Higgens, PMI CEO/executive director. “Action on this issue is needed to assure a safe and plentiful supply of drinking water.”

As an initial step in this advocacy effort, PMI introduced a position statement and infographic calling for a restored underground water infrastructure in August 2016. PMI also hosted a August panel discussion featuring individuals from among some of the organizations that will be partnering with PMI in this effort. This discussion will continue at an Oct. 26 panel discussion, “Next Steps: What You Can Do to Advocate for Water Infrastructure Restoration, Efficiency, Sustainability and Safety,” at the Oct. 24-27 PMI Annual Conference in Rosemont, Ill.