1.
The Business
Case for Water
Infrastructure
Webinar

2.
Sustainable
Agriculture
High Road
Workplace
Infrastructure
Race & Equity
Climate & Energy
Safe Chemicals
• Serving public
interests of the
over 250,000
businesses
represented in
membership
• Advocates for
policy change
• Informs on the
opportunities
for building a
vibrant,
broadly
prosperous,
sustainable
economy
Serving responsible businesses across
industries

3.
•
• Overview of water infrastructure issues
and the business case for water
infrastructure
Colton Fagundes
Policy Manager at ASBC
asbcouncil.org/webinars

4.
• Business sign-on letter to Senate calling for
emergency water infrastructure funding in
appropriations
• Case studies of federally funded water infrastructure
projects
Laura Miller
Clean Water Advocate at Environment America
asbcouncil.org/webinars

5.
Green Storm Water Infrastructure and Nature
Based Solutions: The Potential and the
Business Case
Susan Harris
Principal at Cerulean, LLC
asbcouncil.org/webinars

6.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed
asbcouncil.org/webinars

7.
Investment Gap in Water Infrastructure
asbcouncil.org/webinars
• Need = $129 billion per year through 2039
• Current annual investment = $48 billion
• $81 billion annual gap
• Green infrastructure could save money
• Federal government share of investment
has fallen
• Federal spending dropped from $76 per
person to $11 Source: Vermont Public Radio, Taylor
Dobbs

8.
• Service disruptions and flooding =
production delays, sales loses, and
damages
• Higher prices could = less foreign
demand/competitiveness of U.S.
manufactured goods
• Household losses = less purchasing
of goods and services
The Economics of Water Infrastructure
asbcouncil.org/webinars
Water main break in Houston. Source: CNN.com

9.
Failure to make necessary investments = lost business sales and jobs
(This data covers loses from service disruptions and flooding, but not water pollution)
• Service disruptions = business loss of $230 to $5,800 in sales per employee per day
• $732 billion in lost business sales by 2029 and over $4.5 trillion by 2039
• 333,000 jobs lost by 2029 and 636,000 by 2039
The Economics of Water Infrastructure (2)
asbcouncil.org/webinars

10.
• Making necessary investment = economic
growth and job creation
• $5.6 trillion in increased business sales and 800,000
jobs created by 2039
• Economic activity around building new infrastructure
• Across sector, businesses would see increased
productivity and efficiency
• Increased household purchasing power
The Economics of Water Infrastructure (3)
asbcouncil.org/webinars
Source: RYAN DELANEY / WRVO NEWS
FILE PHOTO

11.
• Many businesses rely on clean
waterbodies
• Commercial fishing, outdoor recreation
suppliers, boating companies, and
waterside restaurants, lodging, and retail
• Beverage and food manufacturers rely
on clean water
Pollution – Clean Water is Good for Business
asbcouncil.org/webinars
Breweries care about water pollution,
because beer is mostly water!

12.
Urban Runoff & Combined Sewage Overflows
asbcouncil.org/webinars
Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

13.
Business Impact Case Study – Lake Hopatcong, NJ
asbcouncil.org/webinars
Source: New Jersey Hills Media Group, newjerseyhills.com Source: Danielle Parhizkaran/NorthJersey/com
• Toxic Algae Outbreaks caused lake closure in 2019
• Urban stormwater pollution runoff major driver. Improvements in infrastructure could
prevent

14.
Why “the business case” for water
infrastructure?

15.
THE USUAL FRAMING OF THE
DEBATE
asbcouncil.org/webinars
Environment Jobs

16.
• Business sign-on letter to Senate calling for
emergency water infrastructure funding in
appropriations
• Case studies of federally funded water infrastructure
projects
Laura Miller
Clean Water Advocate at Environment America
asbcouncil.org/webinars

17.
Green Storm Water Infrastructure and Nature
Based Solutions: The Potential and the
Business Case
Susan Harris
Principal at Cerulean, LLC
asbcouncil.org/webinars

18.
Green
Stormwater
Infrastructure
as a solution to
Failing Grey
Infrastructure
• Provide
environmentally
sound solutions to
failing infrastructure
• Improve water
quality
• More cost effective
• Aesthetic appeal
• Reduces urban heat
islands
• Minimize flooding
and combined sewer
overflow
Susan Harris
Cerulean, LLC

19.
Camden, New Jersey

20.
Intercepting existing
stormwater infrastructure

21.
Conklin Recreation Center,
Cheltenham Township,
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Before After

22.
Stormwater
Basin
Retrofits
Pre-Retrofit condition
• Maintained as mowed turf
• Failing discharge riser
• Short circuiting flows
• Challenging to mow & maintain
• Attracts geese

23.
Post Construction Condition
• Flow path extend to maximize settling period through basin.
• Increased capacity – Flood reduction
• Volume and velocity reduced
• Deeper rooted native vegetation
• Reduced goose presence
• Ease of maintenance

24.
Stormwater Basin Retrofit
Norristown, Pennsylvania Before
After
156 acre drainage area

25.
Philadelphia Green City, Clean Waters
$0
$2
$4
$6
$8
$10
$12
Costs avoided to update grey
infrastructure
Investment in green stormwater
infrastructure
Billions
Projected Cost Comparison in Billions*
*Philadelphia Water Department, Green City Clean Waters, The City of
Philadelphia’s Program for Combined Sewer Overflow Control Program
Summary. June 2011
More than 70% of small business owners believe
clean water protections help spur economic growth.
67% of small business owners are concerned that
water pollution could hurt their business operations.
The Delaware River supplies drinking water for 15
million people, supporting a vibrant economy and
million of jobs.
Data received from a survey completed by the Sustainable Business Network
of Greater Philadelphia.

26.
U.S. Senator Jack Reed
asbcouncil.org/webinars

27.
Questions?
Outside Advocacy Techniques
asbcouncil.org/webinars

28.
Outside Advocacy Techniques
asbcouncil.org/webinars
Colton Fagundes
cfagundes@asbcouncil.org