Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn is joining mayors across the country in asking residents to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources more wisely by taking part in the annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation.
OCALA, Fla. (March 26, 2018) – Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn is joining mayors across the country in asking residents to make a long-term commitment to manage water resources more wisely by taking part in the annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. In return, residents can win $5,000 toward their home utility payments, water saving fixtures and hundreds of other prizes. Plus, one lucky charity will receive a 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid to serve the community.
The annual challenge, taking place Sunday, April 1 through Monday, April 30, is a non-profit national community service campaign to see which leaders can best inspire their residents to make a series of informative and easy-to-do online pledges at mywaterpledge.com to use water more efficiently, reduce pollution, and save energy.
“The City of Ocala is surrounded by some of the most beautiful, natural springs in the world,” said Ocala Mayor Kent Guinn. “We can see firsthand why water is our most precious resource and why it is imperative that we use it wisely. Water conservation is one of the most economical ways for all of us to ensure that our communities have an adequate and sustainable supply for the future. Each and every day we can make a choice to protect and conserve our finite water resource.”
Last year, residents from more than 4,800 cities in all 50 states pledged to reduce their annual consumption of freshwater by 2.2 billion gallons, reduce waste sent to landfills by 52 million pounds, and prevent more than 114,000 pounds of hazardous waste from entering our watersheds. The challenge goes beyond recent drought issues and looks at the ways our water use will affect the future of our communities, from how we grow food to reducing polluted runoff.
To participate, residents can enter online at mywaterpledge.com and make a series of online pledges to conserve water on behalf of the City of Ocala. Cities compete in the following population categories: 5,000-29,999 residents, 30,000-99,999 residents, 100,000-299,999 residents, 300,000-599,999 residents, and 600,000+ residents. 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 home improvement gift cards, home irrigation equipment, and the grand prize – a $5,000 home utility bill payment. The challenge also gives residents a chance to nominate a deserving charity that would benefit from receiving a 2018 Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, and features additional resources for residents to take their commitment of conservation even further, from regional water and energy resource issues to cost-saving tips at home.
The Seventh National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation is presented by the Wyland Foundation and Toyota, with support from the U.S EPA WaterSense, The Toro Company, National League of Cities, Conserva Irrigation and Earth Friendly Products (makers of ECOS).
For more information, please contact the City of Ocala Water Resources Department at 352-351-6772.
