Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash and his office will draw attention to the importance of water quality with a series of outreach efforts to educate the public about water resources during the observance of National Water Quality Month in Aug.
As part of the effort, the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner's office will continue, for the second consecutive year, to partner with the Michigan State Fair. From Thursday, Aug. 29, to Monday, Sept. 2, the Oakland County Water Resources office will host an informational booth at the fair through Labor Day. The public will have the opportunity to meet Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash and WRC's Ambassadors, (a volunteer team of dedicated employees), and will learn about WRC's operation and water resources, at the Michigan State Fair, located at 41600 Grand River Avenue in Novi.
-Many fun educational activities have been planned at the State Fair, as WRC observes National Water Quality month, consisting of the following:
- Free water resource educational bookmarks will be inserted in the free books given away at the Michigan State Fair's Authors' Corner on Thursday, Aug. 29. Local and regional authors will sign their books as part of the literacy awareness effort. Free Pure Oakland Water (POW) kids' drawstring backpacks will be given away. Information about the upcoming annual Kids' Clean Water Calendar Contest will also be available.
- Oakland County's Water Resources Commissioner's Dirt Doctors will highlight the importance of soil erosion education for many school age students on Saturday, Aug. 31, at 1 p.m. Check WRC's Facebook at waterresourceOC for more information.
- Last year, WRC unveiled the informational video, "What You Need to Know About Your Water Resources" on WRC Day at the fair. This year, on WRC Day, Thursday, Aug. 29, this informational video will be featured and will be shown throughout the duration of the fair. A wealth of valuable information relating to water resources ranging from PFAS, the Water Residential Assistance Program (WRAP), water conservation and water quality issues will be shared.
- WRC will be joined by the Oakland County Parks and Recreation's Nature Team, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Friday, Aug. 30; Sunday, Sept. 1; and Monday, Sept. 2. This new informational activity will highlight the area's wetlands and feature biofacts about animals that depend on clean water resources to live. These presentations will be facilitated by Oakland County Parks and Recreations' naturists.
For additional information about the Michigan State Fair, go to www.michiganstatefair.com or view WRC's Facebook page at waterresourceOC.
-On Thursday, Aug. 22, Commissioner Nash will join ACLU investigative award-winning reporter Curt Guyette as part of a panel for WDET's Book Club series, which will feature the book, "What the Eyes Don't See," written by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha. The discussion will highlight the Flint Water Crisis and its implications for the nation's water resources. The free event will take place at Ferndale's District Public Library located at 222 E. Nine Mile Road in Ferndale. The two-hour discussion will begin at 6 p.m. in the library and will be recorded. For additional information, go to www.wdet.com/events. Seating is limited for this free event.
-Special guest, U.S. House of Representative's Elissa Slotkin, who serves Michigan's 8th Congressional District, will be featured on the Friday, Aug. 30, Water by the Quarter show hosted by Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash. During the interview, she will share insight about water legislation and her efforts to address the PFAS issue. She will bring a national security perspective to the issue of water. U.S. Representative Slotkin has the distinction of serving in various defense and intelligence positions in the administrations of U.S. President Barack Obama and President George W. Bush. She served in the White House and many national intelligence agencies with distinction. The program will be shown, aired live, recorded and shared on WRC's Facebook page at waterresourceOC. It can also be viewed on CMNTV.org and on select local public access television stations.
-Completing National Water Quality Month, on Saturday, Aug. 31, WRC will host a resource table at the "Loving Our Community Block Party." This free event will be held on Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., a community biking event "Pedals for Pontiac" will take place and will be followed by the "Loving Our Community Block Party" which will be held at Herrington Elementary School, located at 541 Bay Street in Pontiac. Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash will join Oakland County Commissioner Angela Powell in conjunction with many community sponsors. Register by Monday, Aug. 26, for the community biking event by calling 248-796-1160.
Many of the activities and educational efforts organized are created to promote the importance of our water resources and the protection of them as part of National Water Quality Month.
"Clean water, whether it be drinking water, our surface waters or our aquifers, is vitally important for our survival and prosperity. The more the public understands the issues we face the sooner we get to work to solve our problems," said Nash.
National Water Quality Month emphasizes the importance of water quality with a focus on clean water, sanitation, human rights, geography, urbanization, sustainability, as well as watershed protection. For a list of resources regarding water-related matters, go to the websites of the Environmental Protection Agency at www.epa.gov/aboutepa/about-office-water#ground; and the Department of Environmental Great Lakes and Energy website at www.michigan.gov/egle.
The Michigan Environmental Agricultural Assurance Program at MAEAP.org also provides information relating to farmers' environmental and water concerns. Locally, if there are questions about water quality issues, contact the agency that is listed on your water service bills.
Published: Thu, Aug 15, 2019
