Students living in university housing can help the City of Pomona become the most water-wise municipality in the U.S. by turning off their faucets.
Pomona is calling on residents in the Encinitas, Montecito, Alamitos, Aliso, Palmitas and Cedritos residence halls, the Residential Suites, University Village and residents at the John T. Lyle for Regenerative Studies to make pledges in the online water conservation competition, which started on April 1.
In addition to saving water, residents in university housing who make pledges can win eco-friendly prizes in daily drawings. Pomona currently ranks No. 16 in the country in its population category.
“With the simple act of using less water, residents can help the environment and our community,” said Monika Kamboures, the university’s sustainability coordinator. “This also helps remind students that sustainability is one of the core values of this university.”
Campus events aimed at promoting sustainability and the conservation of resources will be held during Earth Week, which will run from Monday, April 22, through Friday, April 26. The sustainability department, which falls under the auspices of Facilities Planning & Management, will set up an information booth for residents to make last-minute water conservation pledges.
To become part of the effort to push Pomona to the top of the rankings, go to www.mywaterpledge.com, pledge an amount of water to save and enter the prize drawing. The competition ends on Tuesday, April 30.
One registrant from the city that wins the competition will have their utility bills paid for a year. The prize for the winning city is a 2019 Toyota Highlander hybrid that will go to a local charity. Other prizes include a home water system retrofit, weather sensors for landscaping, home cleaning product packages, home-improvement store gift cards and low-flow shower heads.
The contest is part of the Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, which encourages residents across the country to conserve water, energy and other natural resources.