Next week (May 2-8) the Department of Public Health and Environment will join the American Water Works Association (AWWA) in observing Drinking Water Week 2021. This week is a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join together in recognizing the vital role water plays in our daily lives. This year we will celebrate by highlighting the different ways consumers’ tap water is “There When You Need It.”
We recognize the vital role tap water plays in daily life, the infrastructure that is required to carry it to and from homes and businesses, and the critical work that water professionals accomplish around the clock. We encourage you to celebrate with us by planning recognition activities with your customers and communities.
AWWA and its members have celebrated Drinking Water Week by sharing free materials for download and use. Additional information and free materials are available on the AWWA Drinking Water Week webpage. We are especially excited about the Children’s activities in both Spanish and English.
Drinking water week has been around for several decades. In 1988, AWWA elevated Drinking Water Week and gained the attention of the U.S. Government. AWWA then formed a coalition along with the League of Women Voters, the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, and the US Environmental Protection Agency. Rep. Robert Roe and Sen. Dennis DeConcini subsequently sponsored a resolution to name the first week of May as Drinking Water Week, and the week-long observance was declared in a joint congressional resolution signed by then-President Ronald Reagan.
Water utilities, water organizations, government entities, environmental advocates, schools, and others throughout North America and beyond are encouraging consumers to learn more about the importance of water and water infrastructure, especially in times of crisis.
“Tap water continues to serve an integral role in meeting our daily hygiene needs during the coronavirus pandemic,” said American Water Works Association CEO David LaFrance. “Water professionals, the infrastructure they work to design, create and maintain, and the treatment process all work in harmony to ensure safe tap water is ‘There When You Need It.’”
Ron Falco, safe drinking water program manager for Colorado agrees, saying that "In the arid west we particularly value water as our most precious resource, and feel a deep gratitude to those delivering it safely to our taps."
No matter how you celebrate, remember we are thankful for your work to keep our drinking water clean, healthy, and “There When You Need It.”
