Hot Springs Mayor Pat McCabe joined mayors nationwide in asking residents to commit to conserving water and cutting pollution on behalf of their city this month by taking part in a friendly competition aimed at drastically slashing water and energy use.
Residents can win up to $50,000 in eco-friendly prizes for themselves, their city and a deserving local charity, by competing in the Wyland Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation which began April 1 and continues through April 30. The nonprofit national community service campaign is to see which leaders can best inspire residents to make a series of informative, easy-to-use online pledges to reduce water and energy use, the city said in a news release.
"Hot Springs is blessed with an abundance of natural resources," McCabe said in the release. "By taking part in this friendly competition with cities across the nation, Hot Springs can show the rest of the country our commitment to conserving water and preserving the environment."
The event is being held in conjunction with Earth Day 2018, which will be observed April 22, and the 48th anniversary of Earth Month in April.
McCabe said he encourages residents to conserve water, save energy, and reduce pollution on behalf of Hot Springs at http://www.mywaterpledge.com throughout the month. Last year, residents from more than 4,800 cities across the United States pledged to reduce their annual consumption of freshwater by 2.2 billion gallons, while committing to reduce waste sent to landfills and prevent hazardous waste from entering watersheds -- all by making simple daily lifestyle changes.
McCabe said Hot Springs has a good chance at becoming the top environmental leader during the challenge, noting, "In 2015, Hot Springs placed second in its population category. Residents pledged to reduce water usage alone by 20 million gallons -- enough to fill 31 Olympic-sized swimming pools."
To participate, residents make a series of online pledges to conserve water on behalf of Hot Springs by visiting http://www.mywaterpledge.com. Cities with the highest percentage of residents who take the challenge in their population category are entered into drawings for hundreds of eco-friendly prizes, including $5,000 in home utilities paid for a year; a $500 shopping spree at a home improvement store; eco-friendly home cleaning kits and other items for the home; and a Grand Prize 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid.
Residents who pledge early and encourage others to pledge increase their own chances of winning. The challenge also features additional resources for residents to take their commitment even further, from regional water and energy resource issues to cost-saving tips at home.
The Seventh Annual Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation is presented by the Wyland Foundation and Toyota, with support from the U.S. EPA Office of Water, National League of Cities, U.S. Forest Service and other sponsors.
Local on 04/15/2018