Initiated by the American Water Works Association more than 35 years ago, Drinking Water Week is “a unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they serve to join together in recognizing the vital role water plays in our daily lives. “ In the spirit of celebration, Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful would like to invite Gwinnett County citizens and local businesses to observe Drinking Water Week 2014 along with us on May 4 through 10, and then make plans to join us on the shores of Bromolow Creek on May 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Art in Motion – The Great Gwinnett Stream Cleanup.

Here are a handful of ways YOU can celebrate Drinking Water Week 2014:

• Enjoy at Least ONE Ice Cold Glass of Drinking Water Every Day of the Week – A lot of work goes into properly preparing water for human consumption – and we have Gwinnett County’s Water Production Division to thank for ours. The Water Production Division provides clean, safe drinking water for approximately 750,000 Gwinnett County residents. We draw our water from Lake Lanier through two separate intake and pump facilities. The raw water is then processed at one of the county’s two water filter plants: the Lanier Filter Plant can process 150 million gallons per day, and the Shoal Creek Filter Plant can process 75 million gallons per day. Be sure to raise a glass to the hard-working folks at the Water Production Division this week!
• Attend Gwinnett County’s Drinking Water Week Celebration on May 10 – Join Gwinnett County’s Department of Water Resources at the Shoal Creek Filter Plant from 10:00am to 2:00pm to learn where our drinking water comes from. While there, guests can take a tour of the filter plant, take part in kids’ activities, and enjoy free refreshments. County departments will set up informational displays and representatives will be on hand to answer any questions. The Shoal Creek Filter Plant is located at 1755 Buford Dam Road in Buford. If you have any questions about this event, please call 678.376.4200.
• Adopt-A-Stream near you through Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful – much like our Adopt-A-Road initiative, you and your family/co-workers/group will serve as an official “keepers” of a portion of a creek or stream.
• Take Part in Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s Storm Drain Stenciling Program – This is a program Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful helped launch in Georgia to educate the public about non-point source pollution. Non-point source pollution can include runoff, seepage, or drainage of harmful pollutants such as fertilizers, insecticides, oil, toxic chemicals, pet waste, and more into our streams and rivers. Through the Storm Drain Stenciling Program, volunteers stencil NO DUMPING… LEADS TO STREAM on catch basins and distribute door hangers shaped like fish to all homes in their subdivision. Door hangers provide information about non-point source pollution and how citizens can get involved in saving our streams.
• Keep Your “Butts” in your Car –  If you smoke, you should avoid tossing your cigarette butts out of your car window. They often inevitably find their way to our waterways and – thanks to Gwinnett County’s comprehensive litter prevention and control ordinance – littering is illegal. If you don’t smoke, but happen to witness someone tossing a butt from their car, you can report it to Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful by calling (77) 822-5187. Gwinnett County’s littering ordinance imposes fines ranging from $200 to $1,200 for those caught littering on public or private property.
• Study Up on the Proper Handling of Household Chemicals – Household chemicals like paint, fertilizers, insecticides, and more are often responsible for non-point source pollution which can have a dangerous effect on our waterways. Consider recycling, reusing, or properly disposing of these items in order to avoid non-point source pollution. If you are unsure how to dispose of a household chemical, be sure to visit the Recycle Now page on the Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful website and select your material from the drop-down menu for step-by-step instructions.
• Volunteer for “Art in Motion” Stream Cleanup Event at Bromolow Creek – sign up today to take part in this May 17 event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Items collected during the cleanup will be cleaned, inventoried and sent to Hudgens Center for the Arts for use in future art projects. To volunteer for the “Art in Motion” Clean Up event at Bromolow Creek, individuals and groups can register online at www.GwinnettCB.org. Registered volunteers are asked to show up at 9 a.m. sharp on May 17 at the parking lot in front of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful’s offices – located at 4300 Satellite Boulevard in Duluth. For safety reasons, volunteers are required to wear close-toed shoes, long pants, and clothing that they will not mind getting wet and dirty. Gloves and trash bags will be provided, but participants may bring their own.
• Mark Your Calendar for Future Shore Sweeps and Stream Cleanup Events Through Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and our community partners – Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful will continue to support and promote our community partners’ efforts and add to our calendar. One of the most popular events is the Lake Lanier Shore Sweep, hosted by the Lake Lanier Association. For more than two decades, our collective efforts have engaged more than a thousand volunteers each September to pick up trash along the shoreline of lovely Lake Sidney Lanier in North Gwinnett.

For more information, to volunteer, or to make a donation to Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, please visit us online at www.gwinnettcb.org!