5.2. ERMUSR 04-12-2016 Elk River
Municipal Utilities UTILITIES COMMISSION MEETING
TO: FROM:
Elk River Municipal Utilities Commission Eric Volk—Water Superintendent
John Dietz—Chair
Al Nadeau—Vice Chair
Daryl Thompson—Trustee
MEETING DATE: AGENDA ITEM NUMBER:
April 12, 2016 5.2
SUBJECT:
Resolution Recognizing Drinking Water Week, May 1-7, 2016.
BACKGROUND:
For more than 30 years, the American Water Works Association(AWWA)has celebrated
Drinking Water Week with its members. In 1988 AWWA brought the event to the attention of
our government and formed a coalition along with the League of Women Voters, the Association
of State Drinking Water Administrators, and the US Environmental Protection Agency.
Representative Robert Roe and Senator Dennis DeConcini subsequently sponsored a resolution
to name the first week of May as Drinking Water Week, and an information kit was distributed
to the media and to more than 10,000 utilities. Willard Scott, the Today Show weatherman,was
featured in public service announcements aired between May 2 and 8. The week-long observance
was declared in a joint congressional resolution and signed by then President Ronald Reagan.
The following year, AWWA approached several organizations to participate. Through these
efforts the National Drinking Water Alliance was formed of 15 nonprofit educational,
professional, and public interest organizations. The Alliance dedicated itself to public awareness
and involvement in public and private drinking water issues, and continued its work to organize a
major annual educational campaign built around Drinking Water Week.
The power of the multi-organization Alliance enabled Drinking Water Week to grow into
widespread and committed participation throughout the United States and Canada. In 1991, the
Alliance launched a national campaign to inform the public about America's drinking water. The
group distributed a kit containing ideas for celebrating Drinking Water Week, conservation fact
and tip sheets,news release and posters. The theme was "There's a lot more to drinking water
than meets the eye."
DISCUSSION:
Elk River Municipal Utilities' mission statement specifies: To provide our customers with safe,
reliable, cost effective and quality long term electric and water utility service. To communicate
and educate our customers in the use of utility services,programs,policies, and future plans.
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These products and services will be provided in an environmentally and financially responsible
manner.
To be successful in our mission to our customers it is essential that ERMU provide safe and
reliable water on a daily basis. It is widely believed that potable water is plentiful. This is not
entirely true. Great effort is taken to ensure our domestic water is safe and that our water
distribution system is well maintained and reliable. A domestic water system and other urban
service like wastewater and electricity drive economic development. Safe and reliable water are
an important part of why our community is what it is today.
It can be easy to take our water for granted. But highly publicized incidents like the drinking
water contamination issue in Flint, MI, remind us of the importance of the hard work and
dedication of our water system professionals.
ACTION REQUESTED:
Staff recommends the adoption of the attached resolution recognizing Drinking Water Week,
May 1-7, 2016.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Proposed Resolution Recognizing Drinking Water Week.
•
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RESOLUTION NO. 16-2
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF ELK RIVER
MUNICIPAL UTILITIES RECOGNIZING DRINKING WATER WEEK,
MAY 1-7, 2016
WHEREAS, water is our most valuable natural resource; and
WHEREAS, only tap water delivers public health protection, fire protection, support for
our economy and the quality of life we enjoy; and
WHEREAS, any measure of a successful society—low mortality rates, economic growth
and diversity,productivity, and public safety—are in some way related to access to safe
water; and
WHEREAS, we are all stewards of the water infrastructure upon which future
generations depend; and
WHEREAS, each citizen of our community is called upon to help protect our source
waters from pollution, to practice water conservation, and to get involved in local water
issue; and
WHEREAS, the hard work and dedication towards providing safe and reliable drinking
water by our water system professionals is truly appreciated by our community.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE WEEK OF MAY 1-7, BE
DESIGNATD AS DRINKING WATER WEEK.
This Resolution Passed and Adopted this day of , 2016.
John J. Dietz, Chair
Troy Adams, P.E., General Manager
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