For the American Water Works Association, Drinking Water Week (May 3 – 9) has been a celebrated occasion for more than 35 years. But Drinking Water Week isn’t just about drinking water, everybody. It’s about becoming better educated in the ways we, as everyday people, can get involved with the process of creating safer drinking water, and learning more about our own impact on water and its availability.
Although you and I interact with water dozens of times a day and drink it on as many occasions, the fact remains that many people still know very little about this life-giving liquid. For instance, did you know that of all the water on this planet, only 3% of it is actually fresh and drinkable? Or that in one year, an average American residence uses over 100,000 gallons (indoors and outdoors)? Or that taking a bath requires up to 70 gallons of water, while a five-minute shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons?
Below is a list of additional places where you can learn more about your water and Drinking Water Week.
- What is water used for?- http://www.amwater.com/Learning-Center/Water-101/what-is-water-used-for.html
- Our Learning Center page- http://www.amwater.com/learning-center/index.html
- Learn more about your water through annual local water quality reports. American Water customers can access their Water Quality Report by zip code on our website at http://www.amwater.com/customer-service/water-quality-reports.html
- The American Water Works Association’s Drinking Water Week site- http://www.awwa.org/resources-tools/public-affairs/public-affairs-events/drinking-water-week.aspx
I urge all of you to join the American Water Works Association, the EPA and any other organizations nationwide that may be involved in Drinking Water Week. Water is an integral part of life – let’s treat it as such!