Politics & Government

Bring It On: City Accepts Water-Saving Challenge

Hermosa Beach City Council plunges into Wyland Foundation's region-wide Water Conservation Challenge.

When it comes to water conservation, the Hermosa Beach City Council has ventured to bet that its citizens are the champs.

To prove it, the council unanimously decided to participate in next month's Wyland Foundation's Water Conservation Challenge, which asks Southern Californians to pledge online to reduce water waste and pollution.

By pledging, residents agree to take certain measures to reduce water usage in their homes, such as taking shorter showers or not watering their gardens as often.

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The city with the highest percentage of residents who have taken the pledge will win the challenge and receive prizes.

“We’re not physically doing actual water measurements, we’re doing this to promote water conservation and educate the public,” Wyland Foundation representative Jennifer Small told Patch on Wednesday.

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Pledges will be tracked online and a winner will be announced May 2, she said.

"We will be the No. 1 winner of this challenge, and I certainly hope we can outdo Redondo and Manhattan," said Mayor Pete Tucker during the council meeting.

Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin was the first Southern California city official to accept the challenge, which was developed by artist and conservationist Robert Wyland.

"Mayors often issue friendly challenges to see whose city has the best football team," Wyland said in a press statement. "We wanted this challenge to give them a way to build that same kind of excitement, but focus it on one of the most important issues Southern California will face in the next decade."

Wyland also described the challenge as an opportunity to bring awareness to a city's sustainability efforts while educating residents about ways they can save water.

The Water Conservation Challenge period is April 1-30. Hermosa Beach city staffers are organizing public awareness efforts to encourage residents to take the pledge.


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