May 8, 2023
The City of Lawrence and partners throughout North America today kicked off Drinking Water Week, a decades-long tradition led by the American Water Works Association. Taking place May 7-13 this year, Drinking Water Week is a celebration recognizing the vital role water plays in everyday life for both water professionals and the communities they serve.
For Drinking Water Week, we are encouraging residents to learn more about the critical infrastructure that transports water from our local water sources to treatment to consumers to ensure access to safe drinking water. The estimated two million miles of water mains across North America are aging, and increased investment is necessary to assure they can reliably deliver safe water to homes and businesses.
“Clean and safe drinking water is the foundation of a healthy and prosperous community. The dedicated staff who work tirelessly to ensure that Lawrence has access to water that we can trust that flows from our taps to this vital resource deserve our utmost respect and gratitude,” says Steven Craig, Water Treatment Division Manager for the City of Lawrence. “Lawrence is unique because we have two water treatment plants that each have a dedicated water source; this ensures that the citizens of Lawrence will have an adequate quantity and high quality of drinking water.”
To commemorate the week, water utilities, water organizations, government entities, environmental advocates, schools and others are encouraging consumers to learn more about the importance of water services and water infrastructure, especially in times of crisis.
The American Water Works Association features a host of downloadable resources for children and youth to commemorate Drinking Water Week, including:
- Children’s Activity Book (Available in Spanish)
- Puzzles (Available in Spanish)
- “Eye Spy” Games (Available in Spanish)
- and Coloring Sheets
“Access to clean, safe drinking water is vital to our daily health, hygiene and hydration,” said American Water Works Association CEO David LaFrance. “Professionals in the water sector work tirelessly to ensure we have affordable access to the high-quality water we need to strengthen our everyday life and broader communities today and in the future.”
To learn more about Lawrence’s water infrastructure and treatment, visit lawrenceks.org/mso/water
Contact: Michael Leos, Communication & Community Engagement Specialist, Municipal Services & Operations – mleos@lawrenceks.org