News Release 239

MISSOURI KICKS OFF DRINKING WATER WEEK

Department of Natural Resources showcases
winning artwork at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/index.html

Volume 36-239	Contact: Renee Bungart
(For immediate release)	573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., MAY 5, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources kicked off Drinking Water Week today, a celebration across the country of our most precious resource.

"Clean safe tap water is such an important part of our daily lives, and we often take it for granted," said Department of Natural Resources Director Doyle Childers. "Drinking water is one of our most valuable resources, and Missourians are blessed to have some of the highest quality water in the world."

In celebration of Drinking Water Week, the Department of Natural Resources, in conjunction with the American Water Works Association, held a poster contest:

Jason Ingram, a fifth grade student in Mary Kate Quarnstrom's class at Chapel Lakes Elementary in Lee's Summit, took first place.
Sutton Porth, a fifth grade student in Valerie Swearingin's class at Lawson Middle School in Lawson, took second place.
Kylie Vaught, a fifth grade student in Stephanie Vaught's class at Crane RIII in Crane, took third place.

The winners were chosen from more than 400 entries submitted by fifth grade students across Missouri. The Department of Natural Resources is showcasing the artwork of the the top three winners on its homepage at http://www.dnr.mo.gov/index.html in May.

Drinking Water Week also 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.

"Missouri citizens often pay a dollar or more for a bottle of water while public drinking systems provide hundreds of gallons of clean safe water for that same dollar. We don't realize what a bargain water is until the system breaks down."

"Drinking Water Week is a time to pay tribute to the men and women in the drinking water industry that work hard to ensure when we turn on our faucet, clean safe water comes out," said Childers.

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 which does not include individual wells. This meets 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 must regularly sample water for many different contaminants to meet federal and state requirements. 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.

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