The American Water Works Association (AWWA) will publicly launch its “Only Tap Water Delivers” campaign during Drinking Water Week. The campaign, designed to help utilities and public officials communicate about the value of tap water service, will officially launch on May 10 at a public event, where AWWA is teaming with the U.S. EPA to promote public awareness of the value of a safe, reliable water supply and the critical importance of water infrastructure.
“Only Tap Water Delivers” focuses on what tap water can do that no other water can—only tap water delivers public health protection fire protection, support for the economy and quality of life. The campaign is designed to encourage community investment in water service and resources.
Utilities across the U.S. are celebrating Drinking Water Week. In Houston, approximately 1,000 students will be learning about water-related environmental issues at the city of Houston’s 13th annual Water Festival. At the Opening Ceremony, city officials will be proclaiming the month of May as Water Conservation Awareness Month and announcing the winners of the 2006 Water Conservation T-shirt Design Contest. The artwork of the grand-prize winner, Sergio Sanchez from Marshall Middle School, is being reproduced on the festival t-shirts that will be worn by dignitaries, staff, exhibitors, volunteers and students. The festival will include a scavenger hunt with the exhibitors, environmental mascots and a Radio Disney presentation.
Greenwood, Miss., will celebrate Drinking Water Week with a variety of activities, including a community clean-up and several elementary school presentations on water safety and litter prevention. On May 10, declared “Tap Water Day” in Greenwood, citizens are being asked to drink only tap water all day. To close out the week, Greenwood Utilities will invite the community to put items in a time capsule and hold a ceremony to bury it.
In Durham, N.C., the City of Durham Department of Water Management had the mayor proclaim May Drinking Water Month on May 1. Durham also will host its first H2oH! Festival, where more than 100 children will participate in hands-on water activities, water relays and tour the treatment plant. Additionally, the Department of Water Management is piloting the first ad campaign related to AWWA’s “Only Tap Water Delivers” campaign. The ads will run every Sunday during the month of May in the Durham Sun-Herald.
Source: AWWA