JEFFERSON CITY – Governor Mike Kehoe has proclaimed May 3 through 9 as Drinking Water Week in Missouri. Drinking Water Week is celebrated nationwide during the first full week in May each year. It highlights the important work water professionals do to provide safe drinking water to Missouri’s residents and visitors.
Drinking Water Week is designed to make people more aware of the benefits of tap water and is an opportunity to recognize the vital role water plays in our daily lives. A safe, reliable water supply is critical to any community’s success. It creates jobs, attracts industry and investment, and provides for the health and welfare of citizens in ways ranging from disease prevention to fire suppression. We often take water resources for granted, unless we find ourselves in a drought or when depleted water supplies threaten a community’s future.
In recognition and celebration of Drinking Water Week, May 3-9, 2026, the American Water Works Association Missouri Section and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources held a poster contest for fifth grade students. The theme for 2026 was “Save It, Don’t Waste It!” and fifth graders from across Missouri used their amazing artistic skills to demonstrate how essential tap water is to our daily lives.
The American Water Works Association Missouri Section and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources would like to thank all of the students and schools that participated in the contest. This year, more than 600 students submitted entries; congratulations to the winners!
- First Place Winner – Elise Post, Clark Elementary School, Teacher – Ms. Keller
- Second Place Winner – Bela Antonova, Sedalia Middle School, Teacher – Staci Harrison
- Third Place Winner – Elijah Kondratyuk, Sedalia Middle School, Teacher – Staci Harrison
For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources at 573-526-2180 or CapacityDevelopment@dnr.mo.gov, or visit Drinking Water Week | Missouri Department of Natural Resources (mo.gov) or Drinking Water Week | American Water Works Association (awwa.org).