Gainesville places 1st in national water conservation competition
Gainesville has made a splash in the National Mayor’s Challenge, securing first place in the population category for water conservation.
The win comes after Gainesville residents pledged to reduce their energy and water waste and consumption. Gainesville took the prize for having the highest percentage of its population take the pledge, edging out Miramar, Florida, Surprise, Arizona, Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, and Greeley, Colorado, according to a press release from Gainesville Regional Utilities.
“This recognition shows how committed Gainesville neighbors are to protecting our water resources and ensuring a sustainable community for the future of Gainesville,” Mayor Harvey Ward said in the release.
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The annual competition is held every April in hopes of raising awareness and promoting participation in water conservation efforts. It’s held by The Wyland Foundation, a nonprofit striving for “clean water and healthy oceans,” according to its website. Through the competition, residents across the country pledged to conserve 1.8 billion gallons of water and reduce landfill waste by 49 million pounds, among other commitments.
Individual participants will be awarded prizes, with winners to be announced between May 1 and August 31. Potential prizes include $3,000 toward home utility payments − that means money for that pesky GRU bill, Bluetooth watering timers, sustainable sunglasses and more.
"GRU enjoys participating in this fun challenge to promote water conservation,” said GRU Water/Wastewater Officer Debbie Daugherty in the release. “We are proud of our customers for their continued commitment to conserve this precious resource. The Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation is a great reminder of the many ways we can limit usage and lessen our environmental footprint.”
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville, GRU place first in water-conservation competition
