Encinitas Wins 2nd Place in National Water Conservation Challenge

In Spring 2013, San Dieguito Water District (SDWD), which together with Olivenhain Municipal Water District (OMWD) serves residential and business customers throughout Encinitas, invited residents to participate in the Wyland Foundation’s 2013 National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation by pledging to save water and then following through to conserve this precious resource. 

SDWD Assistant General Manager Bill O’Donnell states, “Encinitas residents definitely answered the call. Although this marked our very first participation in this annual competition, we proved that our environmentally conscious community was indeed up to the challenge! In our 30,000-99,000 population category, Encinitas was a very close second to the winner, Bremerton, Washington; a 2012 participant.”

The only other California city in the top ten population ranking was Campbell, in fourth. Together all participants in communities across the nation pledged to save 742,175,738 gallons of water in 2013.

O’Donnell says, “We thank all residents who participated. Please email conserve@sdwd.org to tell us (and show us, with a photo, if you wish) how you conserved, so we can highlight your achievements.”

SDWD, Encinitas Mayor Teresa Barth and the City Council (who also serve as the SDWD Board of Directors) are gearing up for the 2014 Mayor’s Challenge. To register, residents will visit www.mywaterpledge.com between April 1-30, enter their city name and pledge to conserve water, save energy and reduce pollution. People can visit http://www.wylandfoundation.org/mywaterpledge/ to view past winners and visit www.sdwd.org/conserve to learn multiple ways to conserve.

SDWD officials issue their own challenge, saying, “Why wait until April? Nearly 20% of all energy consumption goes toward moving, cleaning and heating water. Water conservation has enormous benefits to local economies, the environment and our global climate. And it’s as quick and easy as taking shorter showers, turning off the faucet while brushing your teeth, using a broom instead of a hose to clean your driveway and shutting off your outside irrigation system during and after a rainstorm.”

–City of Encinitas