PRINTER'S NO. 3785
No. 679 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY RUBLEY, ARGALL, BAKER, BALDWIN, BASTIAN, BEBKO- JONES, BELFANTI, BEYER, CALTAGIRONE, CAPPELLI, CAUSER, COHEN, CORNELL, CORRIGAN, CRAHALLA, CRUZ, DERMODY, DeWEESE, DiGIROLAMO, DONATUCCI, J. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FEESE, FLEAGLE, FORCIER, FRANKEL, FREEMAN, GABIG, GEIST, GEORGE, GILLESPIE, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHART, HARPER, HASAY, HERSHEY, HESS, HICKERNELL, KILLION, LEDERER, MAITLAND, MAJOR, MANN, MARKOSEK, MARSICO, McGILL, McILHATTAN, McILHINNEY, MILLARD, MUSTIO, PALLONE, PAYNE, PHILLIPS, PICKETT, PISTELLA, RAPP, READSHAW, REED, REICHLEY, ROBERTS, ROSS, SAINATO, SANTONI, SATHER, SAYLOR, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER, SEMMEL, SHANER, SIPTROTH, B. SMITH, STABACK, STERN, TANGRETTI, E. Z. TAYLOR, THOMAS, TIGUE, WALKO AND YOUNGBLOOD, APRIL 3, 2006
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, APRIL 3, 2006
A RESOLUTION 1 Designating the week of May 7 through 13, 2006, as "Drinking 2 Water Week" in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, While 80% of the earth's surface is covered with 4 water, only 1% of that water is suitable for human consumption; 5 and 6 WHEREAS, Groundwater, the water that soaks into the soil from 7 raindrops and moves downward to fill cracks and other openings 8 in beds of rock and sand, makes up about 90% of the fresh water 9 on earth, not including polar icecaps; and 10 WHEREAS, Individual water wells tapping groundwater resources 11 provide high-quality water to many homeowners and businesses;
1 and 2 WHEREAS, Few people consider water supply when choosing a 3 home or when taking a stand on local water supply regulations; 4 and 5 WHEREAS, An estimated 2,200 municipally owned or investor- 6 owned community drinking water systems provide high-quality 7 water to homeowners and businesses; and 8 WHEREAS, Federal and State drinking water standards are 9 upheld by the Department of Environmental Protection for all of 10 those systems; and 11 WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission regulates 12 the rates and service of 100 investor-owned water companies in 13 this Commonwealth; and 14 WHEREAS, The mission of the Pennsylvania Public Utility 15 Commission is to ensure that safe and reliable service is 16 provided to ratepayers at a reasonable price; and 17 WHEREAS, PENNVEST (the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment 18 Authority) is the State agency that provides low-cost financial 19 assistance for infrastructure improvements to community drinking 20 water systems; and 21 WHEREAS, Ongoing interagency cooperation among the Department 22 of Environmental Protection, the Pennsylvania Public Utility 23 Commission and PENNVEST strengthens drinking water system 24 viability, enhances service, increases economies of scale, 25 regionally maximizes efficient water supply and use and fosters 26 economic development; and 27 WHEREAS, A new State water plan is being developed to 28 coordinate regional, county and local water allocation and use, 29 land development planning and related zoning requirements under 30 Act 220 of 2002; and 20060H0679R3785 - 2 -
1 WHEREAS, The American Water Works Association established 2 "National Drinking Water Week" more than 30 years ago to call 3 attention to water as a precious natural resource; and 4 WHEREAS, Water conservation and water quality maintenance are 5 essential to this Commonwealth and our nation; and 6 WHEREAS, Because the service provided by viable community 7 drinking water systems is generally available instantaneously on 8 a 24-hour basis, many of us take safe and reliable drinking 9 water for granted; therefore be it 10 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate the 11 week of May 7 through 13, 2006, as "Drinking Water Week" in 12 Pennsylvania to heighten awareness of drinking water treatment, 13 monitoring, distribution and related costs and urge all 14 residents of this Commonwealth to protect our watersheds, 15 conserve our precious drinking water supply and preserve its 16 superior quality. C20L82JS/20060H0679R3785 - 3 -