Memorializing Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 3-9, 2026, as Drinking Water Week in the State of New York

Assembly Resolution No. 1250

BY: M. of A. Jackson

        MEMORIALIZING  Governor  Kathy  Hochul to proclaim
        May 3-9, 2026, as Drinking Water Week in  the  State
        of New York

  WHEREAS,  The  State  of  New  York takes great pride in recognizing
official  weeks   established   to   increase   awareness   of   serious
environmental issues that affect the lives of all New Yorkers; and

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize those
organizations  which  focus on improving drinking water quality in order
to benefit the health of our citizens, while setting the  highest  level
of environmental standards for the state and country; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 3-9, 2026, as Drinking
Water  Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance
of National Drinking Water Week; and

  WHEREAS,  For  more  than  40  years,  the  American   Water   Works
Association  (AWWA)  and  its members have used Drinking Water Week as a
unique opportunity for both water professionals and the communities they
serve to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives; and

  WHEREAS, Drinking water refers to the water that comes from our taps
or bottled water; every day, people rely on safe drinking  water  for  a
variety  of  purposes, including handwashing, bathing, cooking, laundry,
and drinking; and

  WHEREAS, The United States of America produces some of  the  world's
safest  drinking  water  supplies,  and  the  purity  of New York City's
drinking water is well-known; more than one billion  gallons  of  fresh,
clean  water are transported daily from vast upstate reservoirs, some of
which are more than 125 miles from the City,  to  the  faucets  of  nine
million customers across the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Controlling  wastewater  flows and restoring faulty septic
systems near drinking water sources can dramatically reduce germs in our
source water, which is a continuing concern; and

  WHEREAS, One of the most significant public health successes of  the
20th  Century  was the provision of safe drinking water; water treatment
(methods to remove bacteria or chemicals that cause illness) has enabled
millions of Americans to have access to healthy and safe water; and

  WHEREAS, In October of  2020,  water  professional  Paulla  McCarthy
purchased  a  water  plant  and an aquifer on 15 acres of land, thereby,
becoming the first African American woman in New York State to  own  and
operate a water bottling company; and

  WHEREAS, Paulla McCarthy founded Youth Savings Society, a non-profit
organization  which  manages the water bottling operation while striving
to  serve  everyone  with  high-quality  premium  spring   water   while

simultaneously  considering their carbon footprint and working ethically
to safeguard the environment; and

  WHEREAS, Youth Savings Society Waterworks sees itself as servants of
water,  caring  for  this  finite  natural  resource  and preserving its
scarcity around the world; their spring water comes from an  underground
aquifer  in  a  valley that produces approximately 86 million gallons of
excellent spring water per year,  supplying  residents  with  clean  100
percent  fresh  spring water that has been naturally purified by nature;
and

  WHEREAS, Even though the United States has one of the world's safest
drinking water supplies, we must raise awareness and continue  to  fight
to protect our water sources; and

  WHEREAS,  It is incumbent upon all citizens to recognize and applaud
the efforts of those individuals and organizations which work tirelessly
on behalf of protecting our natural  surroundings  for  the  benefit  of
present and future generations of New Yorkers; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim May 3-9, 2026 as  Drinking
Water Week in the State of New York; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of  New
York, and to Paulla McCarthy, Founder, Youth Savings Society.