WaterFest Announced for June 27
Free Conservation Event for Families
(JACKSON, Miss.) — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and the Pearl River Valley Water Supply District (PRVWSD) announced that the free, annual event WaterFest will be held Saturday, June 27, at the Old Trace Park in Ridgeland from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in conjunction with the Independence Day Celebration at the Ross Barnett Reservoir.
WaterFest 2015 will include interactive exhibits, door prizes, food vendors, and activities for kids including inflatables. WaterFest, a signature event of the Rezonate Initiative, educates the public about the importance of the Ross Barnett Reservoir as a drinking water source, an economic development driver, and a recreational destination. This free, family friendly event also promotes the protection and conservation of water and other natural resources.
“The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality is proud to be a sponsor of WaterFest for the ninth year in a row. The best way to learn is by having fun, and this event excels at both. We invite people to bring their families to enjoy what WaterFest offers as well as appreciate the value of what the Ross Barnett Reservoir provides,” said Gary Rikard, MDEQ Executive Director.
“In 2015 we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ross Barnett Reservoir and the immeasurable, positive impact it has had on Central Mississippi and the whole state. We need the public’s help to conserve and improve this important asset. WaterFest helps the public understand what their personal impact is on the water quality of the Reservoir and how important it is to protect our water source,” said John Sigman, General Manager of PRVWSD.
Other partners for WaterFest include the Barnett Reservoir Foundation, Nissan North America, the Cities of Ridgeland, Jackson, and Flowood, Rankin County, Keep the Rez Beautiful, the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Mississippi Wildlife Federation, the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission, and Mississippi Public Broadcasting just to name a few.
The Ross Barnett Reservoir is a 30,000 acre lake in the center of Hinds, Madison, Rankin, Leake, and Scott counties. It is main drinking source for 175,000 residents and businesses in the City of Jackson and some outlying areas. It is also a highly used recreational resource in Central Mississippi.
For more information about the event, visit online at www.rezonate-ms.org or www.waterfestms.com.
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