News Release 209

GOVERNOR PROCLAIMS MAY 4 THROUGH MAY 10
DRINKING WATER WEEK

Volume 36-209

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, APRIL 17, 2008 -- Governor Matt Blunt has proclaimed May 4 through
May 10 as Drinking Water Week in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources, which oversees public water suppliers, expressed its appreciation for the men and women who work to provide safe drinking water to residents and visitors of Missouri.

"Most of us turn on our faucets and expect a plentiful supply of clean, safe water to come out," said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers.  "Water is one of our most precious natural resources, yet too often it is taken for granted. 

Drinking Water Week recognizes Missouri's public drinking water systems for the work they do in providing Missourians with safe drinking water.  A safe, reliable water supply is critical to the success of any community. It creates jobs, attracts industry and investment and provides for the health and welfare of citizens in ways ranging from disease prevention to fire suppression.

In celebration of the upcoming Drinking Water Week, the department, in conjunction with the American Water Works Association, held a poster contest. The first place winner, Jason Ingram, a fifth grade student from Lee's Summit, was on hand to present the Governor with a copy of the winning poster.  

Childers pointed out public water systems in Missouri face increasingly complex challenges, and, overall, public water systems in Missouri have an extraordinary compliance record.  The most recent drinking water compliance report shows the percent of Missouri's population served by community water systems that meet all health-based standards is at 95 percent, the target set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Each water system is responsible for monitoring conditions at individual water plants and is required to employ trained certified operators. Water systems in Missouri are required to regularly sample water for many different contaminants following federal and state limits. A state-approved laboratory must analyze these samples and report the results to the department. The majority of testing is done at the Department of Natural Resources' and the Department of Health and Senior Services' labs at no cost to the systems.

For more information, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/dw-index.htm, or call the Department of Natural Resources' Public Drinking Water Branch at 800-361-4827 or 573-526-1825.  

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.  

###

Editor: Photo is available at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel/dwwphoto.jpg.

Caption: Governor Matt Blunt signs Drinking Water Week proclamation and accepts a copy of the winning Drinking Water Week Poster.  Jason Ingram, a fifth grade student from Lee's Summit, was on hand to present the Governor with a copy of the winning poster.    From left to right - John Schilling, American Water Works Association; Steve Sturgess, Department of Natural Resources; Cheri Ingram, mother, Michael Ingram (son in front row), Kevin Ingram, father; Gov. Matt Blunt, Jason Ingram, (poster contest winner in front row); Karen Kelley, American Water Works Association; and Linda McCarty, Department of Natural Resources.