April 9, 2021 (Moscow, Idaho) — Mayor Bill Lambert is joining mayors across the country for the 2021 National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation by asking residents to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources wisely. In return, residents have a chance to win hundreds of prizes.
The annual Challenge, Apr. 1-30, is a non-profit national community service campaign that encourages leaders to inspire their residents to make pledges at mywaterpledge.com to use water more efficiently, reduce pollution, and save energy. The program started ten years ago by a handful of mayors looking for alternative ways to educate their residents about the future water challenges in the United States.
Last year, residents from over 2,000 cities in all US states pledged to reduce their annual consumption of freshwater by over 1 billion gallons, reduce waste sent to landfills by 29 million pounds, and prevent hundreds of thousands of pounds of hazardous waste from entering our watersheds. The Challenge goes beyond short-term coasts, lakes, and rivers to reducing polluted runoff.
To participate, residents go to mywaterpledge.com and make a series of online pledges to conserve water on Moscow's behalf. Cities compete in the following population categories: 5,000-29,999, 30,000-99,999, 100,000-299,999, 3000-599,999, and 600,000+ residents. Cities with the highest percentage of participating residents have a chance to win $3,000 toward their utility bills and hundreds more eco-friendly prizes, including Toro Irrigation Smart controllers, gift cards to home improvement stores, and more. Also, residents can nominate a deserving charity from their city to receive a 2021 Toyota Highlander Hybrid to help serve the community. Students and teachers are encouraged to take part as well.
The Foundation has created a new digital tool called My Volunteer Water Project that gives residents a unique way to do hands-on home, community, and workplace projects year-round to support their city's sustainability efforts. The more projects residents do throughout the year, the better chance a city wins the Mayor's Challenge in April.
The National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation is presented by the Wyland Foundation and Toyota, with support from the EPA WaterSense, The Toro Company, National League of Cities, Hobie Surf, and Petal.
About the Wyland Foundation
Founded in 1993 by environmental artist Wyland (best known for his series of 100 monumental marine life murals), the Wyland Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving the world's ocean, waterways, and marine life. The Foundation encourages environmental awareness through community events, education programs, and public art projects. www.wylandfoundation.org
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Story Contact: Kelli Cooper, Environmental Education & Sustainability Specialist
Phone: 208-883-7122
Email: kcooper@ci.moscow.id.us