[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 27 (Thursday, February 13, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E271]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  A TRIBUTE TO MISSION SPRINGS WATER DISTRICT FOR 50 YEARS OF SERVICE

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                            HON. JERRY LEWIS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 13, 2003

  Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Speaker, I would like today to offer my 
congratulations to the board of directors and employees of the Mission 
Springs Water District for 50 years of high quality service to the 
residents of Desert Hot Springs, California and the surrounding desert 
communities.
  As you can imagine, Mr. Speaker, water is one of the most important 
concerns to residents of a desert community. However, many of my 
colleagues from the watery East may not know that there are millions of 
gallons of some of the finest water to be found in the underground 
basins of the deserts of California.
  Blessed with one such basin, the early residents of the community 
(later to become the city) of Desert Hot Springs established, by vote, 
a water district that was later to become Mission Springs Water 
District. That original district served one square mile when it was 
created in February 1953. Today, it covers 135 square miles of a 
rapidly growing desert area.
  Since its inception, the district has committed itself to provide, 
protect and preserve its high-quality drinking water. The district has 
gained widespread respect for its water conservation and attention to 
top quality materials in its distribution system.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that it is common for members of Congress to 
speak proudly of the quality of their local products. But in this case, 
the product served by Mission Springs Water District has certified by 
experts as some of the best in the nation. The district has received 
one gold and two silver medals in the largest international water 
tasting competition held: the Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, 
International Water Tasting and Competition.
  In 1998, the district sponsored state legislation to ensure 
protection of its award winning groundwater. The legislation amended 
Section 13281 of the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Act (the California 
Water Code), granting special protection to the Mission Creek and 
Desert Hot Springs Aquifers--the sources of the cities drinking water 
and world-renowned mineral water. The district has continued to support 
other legislation that protects water resources throughout California.
  The district has also been a good corporate citizen. In 1999, the 
district created the Mission Springs Foundation, a 501(c)(3) dedicated 
to educating the community about water and human impact on water 
quality. It was instrumental in the formation of the Desert Hot Springs 
Groundwater Guardian Team in 1995. The Groundwater Guardian is 
committed to working in the community with the mission of ``teaching 
the community to care for and about groundwater.'' In 2000, under the 
leadership of district and the Groundwater Guardian Team, the newly 
constructed Desert Hot Springs High School became the first Groundwater 
Guardian Campus in the Nation.
  In 1995, the district sponsored the First Big Blood Drive on behalf 
of the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce and the Coachella Valley 
Blood Bank. The drive set records for net pints donated in a single day 
drive in subsequent years.
  Mr. Speaker, it is clear that in its 50 years of existence, the 
Mission Springs Water District has not only provided the highest 
quality water in the nation to its customers, but has also served as an 
inspiration source of community pride for those who live in its service 
boundaries. Please join me in congratulating the board and employees, 
and wishing them well for the future.

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