To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Mark Marlowe, P.E., Utilities Director
Title
Update: My Water Pledge
Body
________________________________________________________________________________
Executive Summary
My Water Pledge is a friendly competition between cities across the United States to see who can be the most “water-wise.” Mayors, nationwide, will challenge their residents to conserve water, energy and other natural resources on behalf of their city through a series of informative, easy-to-use pledges online at MyWaterPledge.com. The online pledge asks a series of questions regarding individual conservation behavior and requires less than two minutes. The non-profit campaign is presented nationally by Toyota and the Wyland Foundation, in association with National League of Cities (NLC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Water, U.S. Forest Service, the Toro Company, Bytelaunch, Inc., Wondergrove Kids, and mayors and water agencies across the country. Participants are eligible for one-thousand prizes worth a total of $50,000 and, include a car, home improvement gift certificates, smart irrigation controllers and shower heads. One city will be chosen at random to receive a pocket park landscape makeover. Last year, a woman in Aurora won a Toyota Prius.
The goal, beyond water conservation awareness, is to bring the Town of Castle Rock from 473 to the top 50. Cities are ranked by percentage number of pledges for their population. Population categories are:
• 5,000-29,999
• 30,000-99,999
• 100,000-299,999
• 300,000-599,999
• 600,000+
Greeley is currently #5 in our population category; Ft Collins #6, Aurora #1 and Denver #2, in their respective categories.
The sponsoring entity, Wyland Foundation was founded by renowned environmental artist Wyland with the purpose of helping children and families around the nation to rediscover the importance of healthy oceans and waterways through various programs, of which MyWaterPledge.com is only a small part.
Though Mayoral participation is not required for the pledge, his involvement shows the commitment from the Town regarding conservation and this specific contest. When a resident pledges, there will be a written endorsement from the Mayor and, if we choose, also a video. Town officials and Council Members have the option to be as involved as they would like. They can have pictures taken of conserving water for Facebook posts and should they choose to, independently, solicit pledges. Each one can get a refer-a-friend code.
Castle Rock Water’s plan includes:
1. Create proclamation: April as Water Efficiency Awareness Month with challenge
2. Press release: Mayor’s pledge and challenge
3. Town Talk: article from the Mayor
4. Facebook posts with the following potential images for Council Members that would like to participate:
a. Mayor taking pledge
b. Council member fixing a leak
c. Council member installing low flow
d. Council member slowing the flow
e. Council member washing full loads
f. Council member doing sprinkler audit/xeric design
g. Council member attending a Water Wiser class
h. Council member drinking tap
5. Twitter: announcement, status of council pledges, city ranking, conservation tips
6. Award presentations
a. Council meeting
b. Spring Up the Creek booth on Sat., May 7, 2016
A print out of the anticipated pledge that customers would make if they chose to participate is included as Attachment A. The primary motivation for the Town to participate is to provide a fun, easy way to continue to educate our customers on ways to conserve water. The budget impact is minimal with work on the campaign to be handled by existing staff using digital media.
History of Past Town Council, Boards & Commissions, or Other Discussions
The Utilities Commission supported the My Water Pledge competition as presented on January 27, 2016.
Attachments
Attachment A: Program information