The City of Palm Coast was named one of five national winners in the 11th Annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation by pledging to reduce water use by 51.5 million gallons of water over the next year. The annual campaign to promote water quality and water resource resiliency ended on April 30th with mayors from 40 states vying to see whose city could be the nation’s most “water wise.”
In addition to Palm Coast, the cities with the highest percentage of residents making pledges during the campaign included Sacramento, California, Miramar, Florida, Laguna Beach, California, and Houston, Texas. Overall, residents around the nation made 334,603 pledges to change behaviors ranging from fixing home leaks to reducing harmful runoff into local rivers and streams.
In addition to reducing overall water waste, residents from Palm Coast pledged to reduce their use of single-use plastic water bottles by 119,543 and eliminate 3,152 pounds of hazardous waste from entering watersheds. By altering daily lifestyle choices, residents also pledged to put 1,382,020 fewer pounds of waste in landfills. Potential savings of 194 million pounds of carbon dioxide, 3.4 million kilowatt hours of electricity, and $646,977 in consumer cost savings rounded out the final pledge results.
“I cannot thank our community enough for taking the pledge to conserve water in Palm Coast,” Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin said. “This Water Conservation Challenge has furthered our resolve to continue taking great care in balancing smart-managed growth while preserving and protecting the environment. Thank you all for doing your part to save money, energy, and this most precious resource!”
The Challenge, presented by the Wyland Foundation and Toyota, with support from the U.S EPA, National League of Cities, The Toro Company, Hobie Surf Shops, and Petal Soaps, addresses the growing importance of educating consumers about the many ways they use water. In addition to online pledges, the campaign provides tools for residents to conduct tree plantings, storm drain stenciling projects, and neighborhood cleanups to remove pollution that might otherwise find its way into storm channels.
Residents from Palm Coast will took the pledge will now be entered into a drawing for thousands of dollars in water-saving or eco-friendly prizes, including $3,000 toward their annual home utility bill, home irrigation equipment from The Toro Company, gift cards for online shopping at Hobie Surf Shops, and eco-friendly bathroom hand soaps from Petal. A $500 home improvement store-shopping spree will also be chosen from among the entire pool of U.S. participants.
The campaign also asks residents to nominate a deserving charity in their community to receive a 2022 Toyota Highlander Hybrid XLE. The award of this grand prize vehicle is at the heart of the campaign and instrumental in connecting thousands of charities and civic groups to resource conservation. “The Challenge is about reminding people across the country that we all need to work together to manage our water resources,” said marine life artist Wyland, who founded the Wyland Foundation in 1993. “The campaign shows that there are many ways to do that, but it all starts with simple actions that most of us can do every day that make a big difference over time.”
About the Wyland Foundation
Founded in 1993 by environmental artist Wyland (best known for his series of 100 monumental marine life murals), the Wyland Foundation, a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, and preserving the world’s ocean, waterways, and marine life. The foundation encourages environmental awareness through community events, education programs, and public art projects. Learn more at www.wylandfoundation.org
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