How to Celebrate Drinking Water Week 2025

The yearly observance highlights the essential role of safe, clean water in communities, the importance of investing in water infrastructure, and the work of dedicated water professionals to ensure public health and safety. The event celebrates the teams working at water utilities and water test labs as well as the many governmental and non-profit organizations that protect watersheds to improve downstream water safety.

Let's explore the origins of this tradition, a few community outreach opportunities you can take advantage of to engage with customers and the public, and some ways you can recognize the vital contributions of your team during this special week of celebration.

A Brief History

Expanding access to safe drinking water is one of the U.S.'s most significant achievements of the 20^th century. Many improvements in public health over the last century can be traced back to better water quality. Reducing pollution in water sources, including lakes, rivers, and groundwater, and treating and testing water before it reaches our taps is essential to preserving the health and safety of communities everywhere.

In 1988, AWWA brought Drinking Water Week to the attention of the U.S. government and formed a coalition to promote it together with the League of Women Voters, the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. A joint congressional resolution and presidential proclamation officially designated the first week in May as Drinking Water Week.

Since then, the annual event has given utilities and labs a chance to engage their communities, draw attention to the work of local water professionals, and underscore the value of safe, affordable drinking water in their area. Over the years, AWWA and its partners have provided outreach materials and toolkits to help water systems participate in ways that fit their capacity and goals.

Outreach Opportunities

For utilities and labs that engage with the public, this week can serve as a natural touchpoint to connect with the local community. You can host visits to your facility, create educational campaigns for schools and civic groups, and provide updates about local water quality initiatives.

Here are a few options to consider:

• Facility tours or open houses. Offer guided tours for local school groups, elected officials, or community members to build trust and transparency in your facility and the processes that keep water safe and clean.
• Share insights online. Create a brief photo or video highlighting your team's work and pair it with facts about local water sources or current initiatives.
• Educational outreach. Partner with schools or community organizations to offer lesson plans, activities, or classroom visits that build long-term clean water awareness.
• Customer communication. Include a short message in your utility newsletter or billing insert that ties Drinking Water Week to the value of your services.

Internal Recognition

For many teams, this week is a time to acknowledge the people doing the work—whether in a treatment plant, water test lab, or out in the field. Honor the engineers who design and build infrastructure, crews who fix water main breaks, and lab technicians who ensure good quality water.

Some internal ways to observe the week include:

• Acknowledge team contributions. Highlight recent achievements, certifications, or milestones through internal emails, posts, or meetings, and consider awarding top performers with some type of gift or other form of recognition.
• Host a team meeting or informal gathering. Hold a brief event with coffee and refreshments to share a word of thanks—even something as simple as this can go a long way to making your team feel valued.
• Share data highlights. If your lab or utility has recently implemented new methods, improved turnaround times, or met key goals, Drinking Water Week can be a good time to recognize those efforts.

A Moment to Pause and Reflect

Quality drinking water doesn't happen by accident. Drinking Water Week gives you a chance to draw attention to this precious resource, take stock of the work necessary to keep clean water flowing, and share your commitment to providing safe and reliable drinking water to foster a healthy community.