During April, Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino joins mayors across the nation in challenging residents to make a long-term commitment to protect water quality, reduce pollution, and build greater resiliency in local water systems.

By participating in the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, Santa Maria residents can contribute to local sustainability goals while competing to be the most “water-wise” city.

Participants have the opportunity to win eco-friendly prizes provided by the Wyland Foundation and its sponsors.

This annual nonprofit community service campaign encourages residents to visit MyWaterPledge.com, April 1-30, to make a series of simple, online pledges to conserve water, energy, and other natural resources.

Each year, residents from some 2,000 cities pledge to reduce their freshwater consumption by billions of gallons, cut millions of pounds of waste sent to landfills, and prevent thousands of pounds of hazardous waste from entering local watersheds.

Santa Maria residents can participate by visiting MyWaterPledge.com to make their pledges on behalf of the city.

Cities compete in five population categories based on size. Those with the highest percentage of residents taking the pledge in their category become eligible for thousands of dollars in eco-friendly prizes.

Additionally, one school in each winning city will receive 100 pairs of Zenni Remake eyeglasses, crafted from recycled plastics equivalent to three single-use water bottles, designed to protect against blue light exposure.
 
Visit www.cityofsantamaria.org/conserve and click Water Challenge to watch Patino’s address to Santa Maria residents, encouraging them to team with her in making the pledge.

The 16th National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation is presented by the Wyland Foundation, with support from U.S. EPA WaterSense, The Toro Company, Zenni Optical, and the National League of Cities.