WASHINGTON SUBURBAN SANITARY COMMISSION 14501 Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, Maryland 20707-5902. (301) 206-8100. Fax:(301) 206-8186. E-Mail:communications@wsscwater.com

600 FOURTH GRADERS TO TAKE PART IN THIRD ANNUAL WSSC CHILDREN’S WATER FESTIVAL

Children from Elementary Schools in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties Join Together with WSSC Employees for Fun and Educational Activities

Laurel, MD (March 19, 2008) Today, Commissioners for the Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission (WSSC) selected the schools that will participate in the Third Annual Children’s Water Festival.

Some 600 children from Montgomery and Prince George’s County schools will participate in the festival on May 7 and 8 at Brighton Dam in Brookeville, Maryland.The students will take part in hands-on learning activities about water, wetlands, human health, aquatic life and much more. The festival coincides with “National Drinking Water Week” and provides the kids with a chance to dive into the world of water education and soak up exciting, interactive lessons about life’s most precious resource.

This year’s lucky students chosen to attend the two-day event are from Clopper Mill Elementary, Galway Elementary, Laytonsville Elementary and Monocacy Elementary in Montgomery County Public Schools and from Mt. Rainier Elementary, Thomas Stone Elementary, Samuel P. Massie Elementary, and Roger Heights Elementary in Prince George’s County. The schools were chosen from a pool of 65 Montgomery and Prince George’s County elementary schools in a lottery-style drawing today.

WSSC staff, Topper Shutt, WUSA Meteorologist and "Wetlands on Wheels" will wow students with presentations, activities, and crafts.

"The festival has become such a great experience, for us and the students," said WSSC Community Relations Coordinator Angela Ballard-Landers. "It also gives us a chance to show them career paths in the water and wastewater industries that might otherwise go undiscovered."

For more information on this workshop, WSSC’s Vendor Days program and a complete Vendor Day schedule, please contact WSSC’s Small, Local and Minority Business Office at (301) 206-8800.

WHAT: WSSC’s Children Water Festival

WHEN: Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Brighton Dam Visitors Center
              2 Brighton Dam Road
              Brookeville, Maryland

For more information, including a complete rundown of events during WSSC’s Children’s Water Festival, please contact Angela Ballard-Landers, Community Relations Coordinator or Kira Calm Lewis, Sr. Public Communications Representative, at (301) 206-8100, alander@wsscwater.com or klewis@wsscwater.com.

###

WSSC is the 8th largest water and wastewater utility in the nation, serving nearly 1.8 million residents in Prince George’s and Montgomery counties. We operate and maintain seven water and wastewater plants, nearly 5,500 miles of fresh water pipeline and over 5,300 miles of sewer pipeline. In our 89-year history, we have never had a drinking water quality violation.