America's infrastructure is failing. When a bridge collapses—such as the tragic example in Minnesota last year—it makes the national news. But the country's crumbling infrastructure is also happening out of sight with our drinking water and wastewater systems. In fact, the American Society of Civil Engineers has given these systems a grade of "D -" in their latest Report Card for America's Infrastructure. How can we, as a society, make the massive investment needed to upgrade our aging and overused water infrastructure? One of the first steps is to educate people about the value of water and wastewater systems. Staff members from the National Environmental Services Center's communications and technical assistance units have been working with Penn State Public Broadcasting on Liquid Assets, a public awareness initiative about the condition of the nation's water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. Liquid Assets includes a 90-minute documentary for national public television, combined with outreach materials designed to inspire community engagement. Exploring the history, engineering challenges, and political and economic realities, the documentary—slated for broadcast in Fall 2008—provides an understanding of the hidden assets that support our way of life. Visit the Liquid Assets Web site at liquidassets.psu.edu to learn more about this project.
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