WHEREAS, Maine Clean Water Week is celebrated to recognize the value, importance, and need to protect and conserve our water resources; and

WHEREAS, the citizens of the State of Maine should be able to rely on a safe and dependable supply of clean water both now and in the future; and

WHEREAS, the State of Maine has been blessed with an abundance of clean, safe, and accessible sources of fresh drinking water, a resource precious to all Mainers and a living legacy to be handed on to our children and grandchildren; and

WHEREAS, from our lakes, rivers, ponds, streams, and expansive coastline, water recreation is a part of Maine’s heritage, cultural identity, and outdoor economy; and

WHEREAS, every year Maine students show their support by learning the importance of water, as well as ways that water is wasted, methods to conserve it, and how to protect the many water resources in our State; and

WHEREAS, I call upon each citizen to help protect our source waters from pollution, practice water conservation, and get involved in local water issues to protect and celebrate this priceless resource;

WHEREAS, the State of Maine and its citizens observe the first full week of June as Maine Clean Water Week in accordance with Sec. 1.1 MRSA § 121;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Janet T. Mills, Governor of the great State of Maine, do hereby proclaim the week of June 2-8, 2024, as

Maine Clean Water Week

throughout the State of Maine, and I urge all citizens to join me in protecting and preserving our cherished water resources.

In testimony whereof, I have caused the Great Seal of the State to be hereunto affixed GIVEN under my hand at Augusta this twenty second day of May Two Thousand Twenty-Four