Plan Now for National Drinking Water Week Taking Place May 6-12!

On May 6-12 this year, National Drinking Water Week (NDWW) will once again provide a great opportunity for state drinking water programs and water utilities to promote the value of drinking water.  This year’s theme is “Protect the Source.”  Do you have events planned in your state for this special week?

What You Can Do:  For some inspiring ideas, along with a variety of outreach and educational materials to promote NDWW, ASDWA would like to share some of the ways that your fellow state drinking water programs and others have celebrated.  Some states issue Governor proclamations; post announcements on their website and through social media; hold fairs and contests, hold open houses at their offices with displays and exhibits; and synchronize the timing of ceremonies and press events with NDWW, including announcing drinking water system awards and/or releasing the state’s annual drinking water report.

2018 Drinking Water Week Press Release and Governors Proclamation:  Here is a sample press release and Governor’s proclamation to customize for use in your state.

State Examples:  To see some examples from other states, you may view:

• The Washington Drinking Water Program presents awards each year to outstanding water system operators during NDWW, in conjunction with a proclamation from the Governor. View the information on the state’s website.
• The Minnesota Year of Water Action that was declared by the Governor and urges businesses, the agricultural industry, outdoor enthusiasts, communities and families to take action to conserve and improve water quality.
• The Massachusetts Governor’s proclamation from last year.
• The Oregon Health Authority web page from last year that shares information, links, and resources for citizens to learn about their drinking water.
• The Vermont Drinking Water Program has created a Drinking Water Week facebook page and has been holding a fair and poster and photo contest for the past three years. The state has also developed a video on the value of water.
• Pennsylvania holds its Ground Water Symposium every year during NDWW to help celebrate, and sets up drinking water displays, along with the signed Governor’s proclamation in the lobby of the state office building where the drinking water program resides. This year, they are also hosting a field trip.

Water Utilities:  Your water utilities also provide a great avenue for promoting NDWW directly with their customers and community. Please help them by getting them involved in your state-directed activities and sharing some of these resources with them as examples of what they can do, such as developing bill stuffers and news releases.  Some utility examples include:

• The Georgia Section AWWA is hosting it’s fourth annual “No Water No Beer” Festival at a local brewery as part of National Drinking Water Week to benefit Rivers Alive and Water for People.
• The New Hampshire Drinking Water Coalition celebrates NDWW each year by hosting a Drinking Water Festival and State Science Fair competition for students. The coalition includes the state drinking water program, several water associations, municipalities, and more.
• Madison County, Alabama Drinking Water Festival is held in conjunction with NDWW and has been held since 1998. The festival includes hands-on activities to educate students and their families about how groundwater and surface water, as well as other associated natural resources, relate to drinking water and to instill in them a general environmental awareness and stewardship ethic.
• The City of Evanston, Illinois holds events each year to promote NDWW. As part of the celebration this year, they are conducting treatment plant tours and holding a third-grade art contest. In previous years, they have held a sunset paddle and water sports events; a rain barrel workshop, a high school Instagram photo contest, and more.

AWWA Resources:  The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has a web page that includes a history of NDWW, a web banner with this year’s theme: “Protect the Source,” and a list of celebration and promotion ideas.

 Please Share with Us:  We hope this information is helpful for you. Please let us know what you are planning in your state. We would like to hear from you and get additional examples to share with other states.