Communities Celebrate Drinking Water Week
(May 4 - 10, 2008)

During Drinking Water Week, Greenville Utilities joins with the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and water professionals across North America to highlight the importance of a safe, reliable water supply to our overall quality of life – from public health protection and fire suppression to the critical role it plays in supporting the economy.

“Tap water is such an integral part of our daily lives that we sometimes don’t notice its immeasurable value,” said Gary Zimmerman, executive director of AWWA. “Only tap water delivers the high quality of life we enjoy.”

Public Health Protection - In a world where an estimated three million people die every year from preventable waterborne diseases, people in North America can drink from virtually any public tap with a high assurance of safety. Without our modern water systems, diseases such as cholera and dysentery would be a tragic part of our everyday life.

Fire Protection - In the United States alone, over 1.5 million fires happen each year. While most of us never think about fires until they occur, there is a vast network of water infrastructure in place to protect us when they do. In most communities, water flowing to fire hydrants and home faucets is transported by the same system of water mains, pumps and storage tanks. Simply put, a water system that provides reliable water at a high pressure and volume can be the difference between a manageable fire and an inferno.

Support for the Economy - Though often taken for granted, tap water is critical to the daily operations of existing businesses and to the vitality of new commercial enterprises and residential developments in a host of important ways. From foods and beverages, to toothpastes and perfumes, water is the primary ingredient in hundreds of thousands of every day products. Therefore, the availability of water resources and service has a profound effect on job creation and overall economic prosperity.

Click here to find out more about how GUC's Water Resources.
For more information on what only tap water delivers, please visit www.drinktap.org.
Check out these activities for kids:
Coloring Sheet
Word Search Puzzle
Crossword Puzzle
Maze
Quiz
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