It's National Drinking Water Week
From May 4-10, communities across North America will celebrate all those things that "Only Tap Water Delivers" during Drinking Water 2008.
“Drinking Water Week provides a natural opportunity for all of us to pause and consider the immeasurable value that a safe, reliable water supply plays in our daily lives,” said Gary Zimmerman, executive director of the American Water Works Association. “We have some of the highest quality water in the world and this week we can all celebrate that achievement and also remind ourselves not to take it for granted.”
To commemorate the occasion, water utilities across North America will join with their communities throughout the week to celebrate with fairs, programs, contests, public service announcements, and other exciting events. As part of the festivities, water utilities will highlight the value of tap water service and the importance of conserving water resources. They will also provide their communities with important tips to help everyone play an active role in protecting our water supply.
Pharmaceuticals in Water Supplies
Pharmaceuticals and personal care products, known in the water industry as PPCPs, have been detected in trace amounts in surface water, drinking water and wastewater effluent sampling conducted in both Europe and the U.S. Water professionals have the technology today to detect more substances - at lower levels - than ever before. These compounds are being found at levels 1000 times lower than where drinking water standards are typically set. The fact that a substance is detectable in drinking water does not mean the substance is harmful to humans. To date, research throughout the world has not demonstrated an impact on human health from the trace amounts of PPCPs found in drinking water.
For more information on pharmaceuticals, click here.
Bottled vs. Tap Water
There is no shortage of news stories these days on the merits of tap water and bottled water from a variety of different perspectives.
The truth is, while tap water and bottled water are regulated differently, both are generally safe, healthy choices. But only tap water delivers public health protection, fire protection, support for the economy and the overall quality of life we enjoy. That's why it's important to remember that whatever you choose drink, the water systems generations before handed down to us need constant attention to keep safe water flowing through our communities every day.
Find out more about what only tap water delivers.
For more information about bottled water, click here.
Find Your Water Utility
Looking for information about your local water utility? Find it here!
If you cannot find your utility, please let us know, at khedding@awwa.org.
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