Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/850954
E n s u r i n g a S t r o n g F u t u r e 26 | P a g e Value of Water Every day when people turn on the tap, water comes out. Water disappears down the drain when people take a shower or flush the toilet. Our society would not exist without water. Safe, reliable drinking water does more than just quench our thirst - it also protects public health, grows our economy, and provides a high quality of life. Water is essential to our daily lives. Safe and reliable water service is essential to maintaining public health, firefighting, and quality of life. However, people often don't realize what it takes to deliver water to their home. In order to protect public health and safety and to continue to provide reliable service, Padre Dam must continue to invest in all water and wastewater system components, including pipelines, pumps, valves and reservoirs when they reach the end of their useful lives. Throughout the nation, including California and Padre Dam, many water and wastewater system components such as pipes, valves, pumps and reservoir tanks are reaching the end of their useful lives and require replacement. Waiting until they fail is simply not an option. Replacing critical water system components like reservoirs and pipes is just one of the many challenges facing water systems today. Others include water supply availability, increasingly stringent water quality compliance requirements, and declining usage. All these factors contribute to the increasing costs of service. Customers receive more than just water for their money. They are getting reliable service that includes ongoing maintenance, sophisticated water quality testing and treatment, and highly trained personnel. Simply put, they are getting one of the best deals around.