Water Works: Rebuilding Infrastructure & Creating Jobs

Want to create 1.9 million American jobs and add $265 billion to the economy? Upgrade our water infrastructure. This report from Green For All, in partnership with American Rivers, Pacific Institute, and the Economic Policy Institute, looks at how much-needed investment in water management can boost employment and make the country safer.

The report looks at an investment of $188.4 billion in water infrastructure — the amount the EPA indicates would be required to manage stormwater and preserve water quality. That investment would inject a quarter of a trillion dollars into the economy, create nearly 1.3 million direct and indirect jobs and result in 568,000 additional jobs from increased spending.

Further, the report notes that this is the best moment to make the investment. With the recession creating a shortfall of 11.1 million jobs that would be needed to keep pace with the population and 9.1 percent unemployment, the jobs are critically needed. Moreover, the cost of financing these much-needed upgrades are at historic lows, and the still-struggling economy means much cheaper construction costs.