(Memphis) Memphians know their water is special.
But they probably don’t know how special.
A growing number of business and political leaders say it’s time for Memphis to be more aggressive in making its case about the city’s clean and plentiful water supply as part of a broader effort to lure jobs and opportunity to the Memphis.
Larry Jensen, a local commercial real-estate businessman is leading the charge.
He’s already working with Memphis Mayor AC Wharton and Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam to come up with a more coherent strategy for marketing Memphis water.
When you look at the statistics, you can see how Memphis has an amazing advantage.
No other city has a comparable amount of pristine water which comes completely from Artesian wells.
There are 50 trillion gallons of water in the “Memphis Sands” aquifer not to mention two aquifers below that which haven’t even been tapped.
Recent water controversies from Atlanta to Dallas show why a growing number of companies have a need for a plentiful water supply.
Memphis has a unique advantage in that none of its water comes from surface lakes or rivers.
The huge groundwater supply is something no other city in the country enjoys.
That’s why manufacturers from Nucor Steel to Smith and Nephew have come to appreciate the city’s water potential.
In fact, the Memphis Regional Chamber of Commerce says 2,400 jobs and $1.3 Billion dollars in investment is directly attributable to Memphis water over the past five years.
The chamber also says there are two projects in the pipeline right now which could mean 300 more jobs and $400 million in potential investment.
The water Memphians drink right now first hit the soil when Jesus walked the earth thousands of years ago.
Experts with the city’s utility, Memphis Light Gas and Water, say they inspect the water every day to make sure it’s safe.
They also say other cities are jealous of how good we have it.
The unanswered question is whether boosters who truly believe that ‘Memphis is to water what Saudi Arabia is to oil’, are truly prepared to market Memphis water like they now do transportation and tourism.