OCWA — Central New York’s Water Authority announced it is joining partners throughout North America in celebrating Drinking Water Week.  Recognized this year from May 7 – 13, Drinking Water Week is an annual event lead by the American Water Works Association (AWWA) that recognizes the vital role water plays in everyday life and provides communities with the opportunity to learn more about their public water systems.

To commemorate the week, water utilities, water organizations, government entities, environmental advocates, schools, and other stakeholders are encouraging consumers to educate themselves about their water services.  Each day this week, OCWA will unveil a fun and interesting fact about its drinking water system on its website, Facebook, and Instagram sites.  In addition, OCWA will offer the public some simple but effective tips for conserving water, as well as protecting local lakes and rivers.

OCWA is also offering a poster contest open to students in grades 2 – 8 enrolled in school districts located within its service area (parts of Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, Cayuga, and Oneida counties).  Participants must create a poster with the theme – Why is Water Important?  A winner per grade will be selected and recognized with a certificate and prize.  OCWA has notified schools throughout the area, but if you are a local educator seeking additional information about the program, please feel free to call OCWA at 315-455-7061.

All public water systems in New York are required to meet stringent federal and state drinking water standards.  To read a copy of OCWA’s 2022 Consumer Confidence Report, please visit www.ocwaccr.org.

About Drinking Water Week

For decades, AWWA and its members have celebrated Drinking Water Week, a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join in recognizing the vital role water plays in daily lives.  AWWA is an international, nonprofit, scientific, and educational society dedicated to providing total water solutions assuring the effective management of water.

OCWA—Central New York’s Water Authority—was established by act of the New York State Legislature in 1951 and serves approximately 500,000 residents in Onondaga, Oswego, Madison, Cayuga, and Oneida counties.  The Authority is one of the 125 largest public water systems in the country.  Visit www.ocwa.org.

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