10 Years of Regional Progress: Drinking Water and Human Health

Drinking Water and Human Health has been one of the original and primary themes of the USDA's Water Program. Since the formation of the 406 Regional Coordination Teams in 2000, Region 10 (Alaska, Washington, Idaho, and Oregon) this theme has also been a major part of the Pacific Northwest Region's programming. Surveys in 2002 and 2007 showed that safe drinking water was the highest priority of respondents. Therefore it has been a topic within all the communications strategies, publications, educational programming, and conference themes. During the last 10 years the regional team has produced a 'Resource Guide on Domestic Water Use" for agents and other local county agencies, numerous Fact Sheets on pollutants of concern, and a Regional Expertise Directory. The regional team has produced and distributed over 180 "updates" to a mailing list of over 300 individuals regionally and nationally. This list includes legislators within the four states and Washington and includes the administrators of the Land Grant institutions we serve. Included in the topics included were issues with Drinking Water. Topics such as Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products, Bottled Water, Testing Water, Water Standards, to the History of Drinking Water and the State of Drinking Water now. What we do on the surface of the land has a direct effect on groundwater, a source for drinking water and surface water bodies. That was the theme for one of the Regional Bi-annual Conferences. Over 220 professionals attended this conference in 2005. Issues covered included the interaction of groundwater and surface water, hydrology of groundwater and groundwater policy including exempt wells.