When the economy is stalled and the headlines are awash with bad news, the conventional wisdom is that the public is not inclined to support big projects. But a recent survey suggests that may not be the case when it comes to fixing California's water system.

Though jobs and economy are clearly dominant issues today, voters remain concerned about the state's water supply and agree California should make major investments to upgrade and modernize our water supply system, according to a statewide survey conducted by Field Research on behalf of the Association of California Water Agencies.

The survey found that three in four voters, 75 percent, are concerned about water. An overwhelming majority, 84 percent, agrees the state has major water problems and must invest in its water infrastructure to ensure reliable water now and in future years.

The findings indicate that water has not dropped off the radar for Californians even as budget cuts and unemployment are front and center, and the state's reservoirs are nearly full. That insight is helpful as policymakers continue to evaluate strategies for financing much-needed improvements to our statewide water system.

Experts agree that critical elements of that system are outdated and pushed to the limit. Improvements have not kept pace with our growing population and our changing needs, and every day that goes by without a plan to modernize our water system puts us further behind the eight ball.

Every job and every industry in California needs reliable water. Yet we've postponed making the major investments necessary to bring our statewide system into the 21st century. As a result, our network of pipelines, canals, and water storage and delivery facilities is hard-pressed to meet today's needs – let alone the needs of the 60 million Californians expected by 2050.

Aging levees are in danger of being overwhelmed in a flood or major earthquake. The Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, an important estuary that is also central to our water system, faces numerous threats that must be addressed. Our reservoirs and delivery systems need greater flexibility to capture water in wet years so we can meet demands during the inevitable dry years. Climate change makes it even more urgent that we retool our system to cope with more extreme droughts and floods.

Under water legislation enacted in 2009, our water system now must be managed to meet the co-equal goals of a reliable water supply and a healthy Delta ecosystem. That balancing act requires us to invest in environmental restoration and new infrastructure, such as water recycling and desalination plants, fish screens and more.

The good news is that the need for water projects seems to resonate with the public. According to the Field survey findings, six in 10 voters, 62 percent, believe investing billions of dollars in a state bond package such as the one on the November ballot would be worth it to ensure reliable water supplies. As Mark DiCamillo of Field sees it, the findings suggest there is a core base of support for investing public dollars in upgrading and expanding the state's water system through a water bond.

The take-home message is that Californians see the link between investing in water infrastructure and job creation. At a time when the public is hypersensitive about how dollars are spent, investing in water infrastructure may be in a class by itself because water is seen as such an essential service and a critical part of our economy and jobs.

Water infrastructure projects create jobs and infuse dollars into the economy. Studies say that for every $1 billion spent on water infrastructure, as many as 28,500 jobs are created. Investing in water infrastructure also provides the long-term foundation needed to maintain and grow jobs and the economy by ensuring clean and reliable water supplies.

The longer we put these investments off, the more expensive they become. Delay also puts California at a competitive disadvantage and places our economy at risk. A study released recently by the American Society of Civil Engineers warned that failing water infrastructure nationwide could reduce economic output by $42 billion annually, cause the loss of as many as 700,000 jobs by 2020 and prompt some businesses to relocate outside the United States.

California has made key water investments at critical turning points in the past. As discussions take place over the coming months, it is encouraging to know that Californians are still supportive of making investments in our water infrastructure. Let's keep that in mind.

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Timothy Quinn is executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies.

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