Celebrate Drinking Water Week with LCA!
May 5, 2024It’s our favorite time of the year: the American Water Works Association’s annual Drinking Water Week!
“Water is not just a resource; water is LIFE,” says LCA Chief Executive Officer Liesel Gross. “Every drop we care for and conserve today helps to ensure a sustainable tomorrow.”
Clean, safe water is essential to protecting public health and our environment. We literally need clean water to survive—so much so that the Mayo Clinic says the old advice to drink eight cups of water a day (64 fluid oz) should be considered a mere starting point, and that most people need even more to stay healthy!
Yet every day, millions of us turn on the tap without giving any thought to the infrastructure that carries the water from source to tap. And we rarely, if ever, think about the critical work of water professionals who make it all possible. Utility employees work around the clock, 365 days a year—working on weekends, holidays, and even through the pandemic—to ensure that homes and businesses alike have clean and reliable water service all day, every day.
An Important Anniversary
This year’s Drinking Water Week celebration also coincides with a historic milestone – the 50th anniversary of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in the United States, a landmark law designed to safeguard the public by setting high drinking water quality standards. The SDWA provides a scientific framework to identify potential risks to drinking water and address them in partnership with states and water utilities.
“The people of the United States enjoy some of the world’s best drinking water, and the Safe Drinking Water Act helps make that possible,” says David LaFrance, CEO of the American Water Works Association. “Over the past 50 years, the SDWA has provided a consistent, scientific process for evaluating potential risks, inspired innovative solutions to water quality concerns, and provided consumers with confidence in the safety of our most vital resource. A safe and well-managed water supply is foundational to our health, well-being and overall quality of life.”
Many vital improvements in the health, prosperity, and longevity of the U.S. population over the last 100 years can be attributed to improvements in water quality as well. Water treatment and disinfection have made U.S. tap water one of the safest and healthiest drinking water supplies in the world. And water systems support our communities in other ways as well.
A Precious Gift
“Drinking Water Week is the perfect time to reflect on all that safe drinking water means in our lives,” LaFrance says. “Safe, reliable drinking water is critical in many ways, including public health, economic prosperity and our high quality of life. With the Safe Drinking Water Act anniversary, we also celebrate the committed water system workers, the vigilant regulators, the researchers, the public health professionals, the environmental advocates, and everyone with a hand in fulfilling the high standards and spirit of the SDWA.”
To commemorate the week, 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 services and water infrastructure, especially in times of crisis.
“Water is not just a necessity, but a precious gift that sustains us all. It is worth celebrating,” says Gross.
We hope you’ll join us this week as we take time to appreciate the critical role that drinking water plays, both in our lives and in society. You can follow the links below to learn more about:
Lead in drinking water (and please take our survey if you haven’t already!)
Parents, guardians and educators: Kids can learn about water through interactive games and activities! Just click the links below to download materials:
Activity booklet — English
Activity booklet — Spanish
Puzzle – English
Puzzle – Spanish
Eye Spy – English
Eye Spy – Spanish
Coloring Sheet – English
Coloring Sheet – Spanish