NEWS INFORMATION FROM

THE OFFICE OF MAYOR STEPHEN R. REED
City of Harrisburg
King City Government Center
Harrisburg, PA 17101-1678
Telephone: 717.255.3040

FOR IMMEDIATE USE
30 March 2004

CITY STUDENTS TAUGHT ABOUT WATER RESOURCES & CONSERVATION IN INNOVATIVE ‘TAPWATER’ PROGRAM

Harrisburg, PA—Harrisburg city school students are learning more about our water resources through the new TAPWATER program, an innovative classroom curriculum developed by the city’s Bureau of Water, Mayor Stephen R. Reed today announced. The unique environmental awareness program is being offered to all city school students in grades 2 through 7.

Reed said the distinctive new TAPWATER program is designed to raise environmental awareness of water as a natural resource and teach children the importance of water conservation. The hands-on curriculum includes various videos, graphic displays, handouts and lectures by water conservation experts, with the intent of helping students to think about water as a life-sustaining resource, and not something to be taken for granted.

The Mayor noted that the lessons have been developed by educators under guidelines established by the state’s Academic Standards for Environment and Ecology and Science and Technology. The program was developed by the city in conjunction with the PA Chapter of the American Water Work Association.

“Water is our most important natural resource,” said Mayor Reed, “and teaching our young people to become good water stewards is an essential life practice that will become ever more important in the decades ahead. Now is the time to inculcate these future adults and leaders with respect and appreciation for the importance of water conservation. This is truly an investment in our future.”

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