5.2. ERMUSR 04-12-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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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. PO / EDED DI Page 1 of 2 NATURE Reliable Public Power Provider P OWERED T O S ERV E 91