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Tag Archives: drinking water

Make a poster to honor your tap water

Contest entries are should be postmarked by March 25, 2013.

In recognition and celebration of Drinking Water Week, May 5-11, 2013, the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the American Water Works Association are holding a poster contest for Missouri students in the fifth grade.

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. We often take water resources for granted unless we are living through a drought or when depleted water supplies threaten a community’s future. Water plays a vital role in our daily lives, and this year we are celebrating what only tap water can deliver.

The artwork size can be no larger than 11 by 17 inches. Prizes will be awarded to the top three winners:  $300 for first place, $200 for second place and $100 for third place.  Contest entries should be postmarked by March 25.

Each entry should have the student’s name, the teacher’s name and the school name, address and telephone number on the back. Students should also be sure to sign the front of the artwork.

Entries will be judged on three criteria: how original the entry is, how well the concept is executed, and how well the poster relates to public water supplies. The poster should convey a message celebrating tap water!

Mail entries to: Susan Bloomer, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Water Protection Program, P.O. Box, 176, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176.  For more information, call 1-800-361-4827 or 573-526-1825 or visit www.dnr.mo.gov/env/wpp/dw-index.htm.

Posted on Feb 28, 2013

Drinking Water Week Poster Contest Results

In celebration of Drinking Water Week, the department, in conjunction with the American Water Works Association, held a poster contest.

  •  Addison Luetkemeyer, a fifth grade student at Immaculate Conception School in Jefferson City, took first place and will receive $300. 
  • Kelsie Backues, a fifth grade student at Immaculate Conception School in Jefferson City, took second place and will receive $200. 
  • Katie Kriz and Sara Salarno, fifth grade students at Union Chapel Elementary in Kansas City, took third place and will each receive $50. 

The winners were chosen from hundreds of entries submitted by fifth grade students across Missouri.  For more information, or to view the winning posters, visitwww.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.  

Posted on May 11, 2012

Happy Drinking Water Week

Happy Drinking Water Week!  Today is the official kickoff of Drinking Water Week, a nationwide celebration of our most precious resource. 

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. Drinking Water Week is a time to pay tribute to what only tap water can deliver.

Posted on May 07, 2012

Do not Flush Medicines!

Studies over the years have found trace amounts of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in drinking water supplies. Scientists are concerned about the effect these pharmaceuticals are having on the environment and wildlife. It is important to properly manage pharmaceutical waste to minimize any potential for adverse health effects to individuals from exposure to these substances in their drinking water.

 

Flushing medicines can harm the beneficial bacteria that break down waste in septic systems and wastewater treatment plants. Municipal wastewater treatment facilities are not designed to remove all the ingredients from the medicines in the treatment process. Help us keep Missouri’s land and water resources safe by reducing the amount of pharmaceutical waste you generate and learning how to properly dispose of any leftover medications.

 

To help reduce pharmaceutical waste:

 

  • Take prescription medicines as directed.
  • Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you have questions about your prescription or other medicines.
  • Only purchase and use essential pharmaceuticals.

The Proper Disposal of Household Pharmaceutical Waste brochure has more information regarding drug disposal.  

Posted on Dec 01, 2011

Prescription drug collection boxes installed

 

New drug collection boxes were recently installed in police stations in cities across Franklin County.

Residents can now drop expired, unused and unwanted prescription drugs into the secure, metal boxes located at the police stations 24 hours a day. Providing individuals with a secure and convenient way to dispose of prescription drugs will help prevent diversion and abuse and demonstrates sound environmental stewardship.

The Proper Disposal of Household Pharmaceutical Waste brochure has more information regarding drug disposal.  

If you would like more information regarding solid waste, please visit the Solid Waste Management Program website.

 

Or click for more information regarding:

 

Schedule of Local Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events; Household Hazardous Waste ; Permitted Facilities; Scrap Tires and Illegal Dumping; e-cycle Missouri or Reduce. Reuse, Recycle. 

Posted on Nov 30, 2011

DNR ensures safe drinking water for Missourians

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.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Water Protection Program has the important mission of ensuring each of  the state’s 2,788 public water systems provide safe drinking water to every visitor and resident of Missouri.

Public water systems in Missouri face increasingly complex challenges, and overall, public water systems in Missouri have an extraordinary compliance record.  The department requires all public water systems to monitor for 91 different regulated chemicals and microbiological contaminants on a regular schedule, and take corrective action if any health-based standards are exceeded. The department performs monitoring of drinking water, conducts periodic inspections and provides compliance assistance on water supply problems to cities, water districts, subdivisions, mobile home parks and other facilities.

A state-approved laboratory must analyze drinking water 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.  The sample results are logged and tracked by the department, to ensure facilities are providing safe drinking water. When violations do occur, that often is the first identification of a problem and can be the first step toward correcting it.

In addition, the department’s Water Protection Program reviews plans and issues permits for the construction and operation of public drinking water systems. Financial assistance is provided through grants and low-interest loans to local governments to assist in the construction of drinking water facilities.

Posted on Oct 06, 2011

Learn about your drinking water

Do you know what’s in your drinking water? If not, the department is urging consumers to find out more about their drinking water quality by reviewing a report from their local water system.

Public water supplies were required to make the Consumer Confidence Reports available to their customers by July 1. The reports describe the water sources used by the systems and identify any contaminants found during routine drinking water testing. The reports also inform consumers of the water system’s compliance with other drinking water-related rules and provide general information about drinking water and health, enabling Missourians to make practical, knowledgeable decisions about their health and environment.

To assist utilities in producing the reports, the department created an informational packet that contains a template and tips on developing an informative report and making it available to customers. The Consumer Confidence Reports also provide suppliers with an opportunity to explain how they protect the community’s drinking water supplies in order to build their relationship with the customer.

All community water systems are required to make a Consumer Confidence Report available to all of their customers. These systems include cities, water districts, subdivisions, mobile home parks and other water systems serving at least 25 residents. A copy of the report will be sent by mail, published in the local newspaper or posted at the water system’s office, public buildings and the local library. Large water systems serving more than 10,000 people must deliver each customer a copy of the report directly and smaller systems may use one of the other delivery or notification options. Several water systems post the report on the web.

The department encourages the public to read their water system’s Consumer Confidence Report and become better informed about their drinking water. Any citizen served by a community water system who has not received a Consumer Confidence Report should call their water provider and request a copy.

Posted on Aug 04, 2011