NEWS RELEASE
May 3, 2007
Contacts:
Stephanie Duer, (801) 483-6860
Salt Lake City Public Utilities
Alane Boyd, (801) 712-1619
Intermountain Section AWWA
Donna Kemp Spangler, (801) 536-4484
Department of Environmental Quality
May 6-12 is Water Week
First Water Week Draws Flood of Events
Water is the theme throughout the week of May 6-12 as various organizations, schools and libraries host activities to celebrate the first annual state-designated Water Week.
The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) joins numerous organizations throughout the state to partner with the Intermountain Section of the American Water Works Association (AWWA) to promote a week-long series of activities around the state that celebrate the wonder of water.
“I encourage everyone to take the opportunity to recognize the importance of water and the need for conservation,” said Dianne Nielson, executive director of DEQ.
Gov. Jon Huntsman signed HB 20 into law during the 2007 legislative session that commemorates the first full week of May each year as State Water Week. The bill, sponsored by House Minority Leader Ralph Becker (D-Salt Lake), is intended to raise awareness of the importance of water conservation, quality and supply in the state.
“Water is a basic and essential need of every living thing and is a finite natural resource of great value and importance to everyone in Utah,” said Stephanie Duer, water conservation coordinator for the Salt Lake City Department of Public Works and chairwoman of the Intermountain Section’s Youth and Consumer Education Committee. “We want to celebrate the essence of water and what it means to all of us.”
A poetry contest sponsored by Barnes & Noble will kick off the events that also include a golf tournament, water quality symposium, library exhibits and elementary school classroom lessons.
The activities include:
- Poetry Slam: 8 p.m. Friday, May 4, Sugarhouse Barnes & Noble McIntyre Center, 1104 E. 2100 South. The poetry will highlight water and all of its benefits. Prizes will be given and the winners will have the opportunity to read their poems on KRCL as part of Water Week.
- Official Kick-off: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, May 5, Living Planet Auditorium, 725 E. 10600 South, Sandy. Rep. Ralph Becker will join Mike Styler, executive director of the Department of Natural Resources and Scott Paxman, assistant general manager for Weber Water Conservancy District in making presentations. The event will be followed up at 6 p.m. with a banquet.
- Summit Academy: 1-3 p.m. Monday, May 7, about 76 first graders will participate in a lesson about water. The school is located at 1285 E. 13200 South, Draper.
- Channing Hall: 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, May 8, about 75 fourth graders will take part in lessons about water with third grade students hearing lessons between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. that same day. The school is located at 13515 S. 150 East, Draper.
- Oak Hollow Elementary: 9-11 a.m., Wednesday, May 9, third graders will learn about water while second graders will learn about water between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. The school is located at 884 E. 14400 South. At 1-3 p.m. Thursday, May 10 first graders at the elementary will participate in water discussions.
- Spring Water Quality Symposium: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Thursday, May 10 at the Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake and Sandy. College students from Utah and Idaho will join with the water industry professionals to share ideas and talk about their current projects. Two $500 scholarships will be awarded to students for the top research projects.
- Water for People Golf Tournament: 8 a.m. Friday, May 11 at Talons Cove Golf Course, 2220 S. Talons Cove Drive in Saratoga Springs. Proceeds from the Golf Tournament will go to support Water for People and their Kuntaja Water Project in the Rualblantyre District of Malai. Last year the Intermountain Section of AWWA raised more than $6,000 to help this country improve its quality of life by supporting sustainable drinking water resources.
For more information on events and activities visit www.waterweek.org
