ST. PAUL, MN – As Water Action Week concludes on Earth Day, Governor Mark Dayton today honored three Minnesota “Water Heroes” for their efforts to protect and improve the quality and availability of water in Minnesota, and around the world. Patty Hall, former teacher and co-founder of H2O for Life, Northfield farmer Dave Legvold, and Pentair Chairman and CEO Randall Hogan were honored for their water-saving work today at a ceremony in the Governor’s Office. Governor Dayton offered his personal thanks to each recipient, and encouraged Minnesotans to learn from and emulate their exemplary actions.

 

“My father, Bruce Dayton, taught me that good stewardship is one of our most important responsibilities: to take what we have been given, or have acquired, and leave it in better condition for those who will inherit it from us,” said Governor Dayton. “As Minnesotans, who have inherited this incredible state, we have no greater shared responsibility than our stewardship: to protect and improve the priceless natural resources, which we will pass on to our children and grandchildren. That wise stewardship is everyone's challenge and everyone's opportunity.”

 

As Governor Dayton concludes his Water Action Week on Earth Day, he also called on Minnesotans to contact their legislators to urge them this session to enact new investments in clean water infrastructure to assure clean, affordable water for all Minnesotans.

 

Patty Hall is a former Minnesota teacher who founded H20 For Life in 2007, after bringing students at her school together to raise awareness, and funds, to address serious global water challenges. Now, the H20 For Life curriculum helps teach students across Minnesota about water challenges and inspires action, through fundraising for international water quality projects, organizing walks for water, and establishing a clean water ethic that will benefit our state and our world for years to come.

 

Patty Hall is recognized as a Minnesota Water Hero for taking water action in Minnesota schools.

 

The vast majority of Minnesota farmers are good stewards of their land, and their waters, but few have demonstrated the same exemplary commitment to upholding a clean water ethic as Dave Legvold. For the last 35 years, Dave has devoted his life to protecting Minnesota’s waters, as a teacher, farmer, and mentor. Dave has been working on his family farm outside of Northfield since 1976, and has been consistently dedicated to studying, implementing, and sharing the best practices to protect water and improve productivity, including installing water quality buffers on his land.

 

Dave Legvold is recognized as a Minnesota Water Hero for taking water action on Minnesota’s farms.

 

Pentair is an example of a Minnesota business leading the way in its efforts to protect and preserve our state’s waters, demonstrating an ethic of stewardship that all Minnesota companies should emulate. Under the leadership of Pentair Chairman and CEO Randall Hogan, the company decided to focus its efforts on the water industry in 2004. Today, Pentair is a global leader in creating sustainable water solutions – helping Minnesota businesses, cities, and water consumers across the world better manage this important resource.

 

Randall Hogan is recognized as a Minnesota Water Hero for taking water action in Minnesota business.

 

During Water Action Week, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith are urging Minnesotans to take four simple actions – individual efforts to collectively improve the quality of Minnesota’s waters.

 

1.      Learn About Your Water Quality – Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith are encouraging all Minnesotans to learn more about the water around them, including the challenges facing our lakes, rivers, and clean drinking water systems, and the actions they can take as individuals to make a difference – because Minnesotans who understand the problems facing our waters will be better-equipped and motivated to be part of the solution. This week, the Office of the Governor and Lt. Governor has launched a one-stop web page that provides a number of helpful links Minnesotans can use to learn more about water challenges in Minnesota. Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith are also encouraging Minnesotans to do their own research, to test the water in their wells, and to learn more locally about the water infrastructure and systems their families rely on. Minnesotans can also follow the conversation on Facebook and Twitter, where the Governor, Lt. Governor, and state agencies will be sharing #WaterActionMN tips every day throughout the week.

 

2.      Teach Your Children about Clean Water, and Let Them Teach You – Establishing an ethic of responsible stewardship needs to start early. That is why Governor Dayton and Education Commissioner Brenda Cassellius will be visiting an elementary classroom this week, to meet with students who are learning in school what they can do to protect and improve the quality of water in their communities. Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith urge all Minnesota parents and teachers to talk with their children and students this week about the importance of water in our lives, and what Minnesotans can do – even as children – to leave a lasting legacy of clean water for this generation, and generations that follow. A great place to start is www.h2oforlifeschools.org where parents, teachers, and children can find simple lesson plans, watch short videos, and find new ways to make a positive impact on water quality in our communities, across our state, and around the world.

 

3.      Set a Water Conservation Goal – Whether fixing leaky pipes in your house, turning off the water when brushing your teeth, taking a shorter shower, or using less fertilizer on your lawn, all Minnesotans can make small changes in their lives that will collectively have a significant and positive impact on Minnesota’s waters. Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith encourage Minnesotans this week to think about the way their lifestyles impact the water around them, and set a specific goal to make positive changes in their lives that will contribute to cleaner, safer, more affordable water for all Minnesotans.

 

4.      Contact Your Legislators – While government alone cannot solve the multitude of challenges facing Minnesota’s lakes, rivers, and drinking water systems, state and local leaders do play an important role. The actions of the State Legislature can, and must make a significant difference in assuring clean, affordable water for all Minnesotans. This session, Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith have proposed a $220 million down-payment on the essential clean water infrastructure upgrades Minnesota needs to provide clean, affordable drinking water in communities across Minnesota. Governor Dayton and Lt. Governor Smith encourage Minnesotans to review the proposal – including how it would impact their communities – and contact their legislators to encourage them to support these needed investments. Minnesotans can find out how to contact their legislators by using the “Who Represents Me?” tool on the Legislative Coordinating Commission’s website.