April marks Earth Month when we are all reminded of our responsibility to safeguard our planet. In line with this, Mayor Valerie Amezcua rallied the residents and businesses of Santa Ana last April, urging them to take a simple pledge to conserve water and reduce pollution.
This call to action was made in conjunction with the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, a friendly competition between cities across the U.S. to determine the most “water-wise” community. Mayors nationwide challenged their residents to conserve water, energy and other natural resources on behalf of their city through a series of easy-to-use pledges online.
Mayor Amezcua emphasized the importance of making conservation a way of life in Santa Ana, stating,
“The City of Santa Ana has a long history of environmental stewardship, and protecting our most precious resource is at the heart of it. As a community, we have done an amazing job conserving water, but we can always do more. The National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation will actively engage Santa Ana residents and businesses to continue saving water and help preserve our water resources for future generations.”
Residents who took the pledge not only helped our planet, but they were entered into daily drawings to win hundreds of prizes as well as the opportunity to win $3,000 toward their annual utility bills.
The Water Resources Division supported the Mayor’s initiative through a targeted direct mail campaign, informative flyers, a social media campaign, and a robust outreach effort at community events. Equipped with iPads, our dedicated staff assisted event attendees in taking the pledge, ensuring broad participation.
While Santa Ana did not emerge as a winner, our community demonstrated unwavering commitment by taking action in the following ways:
- 85% of participants pledged to adopt new daily habits, fix leaks, and incorporate water-efficient fixtures at home to conserve water.
- 80% of participants pledged to enhance the community’s aesthetics by undertaking simple landscaping projects utilizing water saving irrigation technologies, native plants, and eco friendly techniques to minimize water usage.
- 65% of participants pledged to actively engage in water-wise community projects, thus sharing the responsibility of environmental stewardship.
The results highlight Santa Ana’s dedication to sustainability and set a strong foundation for continued progress in preserving our environment for generations to come.