2024 Partner of

the Year Awards

Rancho California Water District WaterSense
labeled irrigation controller distribution event.

WaterSense® Partners of the Year Made Water Savings Simple

WaterSense and its more than 2,100 partners have been making it easy for consumers and businesses
to save water since 2006. Our partners work together to promote and produce WaterSense labeled
products and homes, encourage water-saving behaviors, and educate consumers, professionals, and
businesses on reducing water waste. Ten partners were honored for their continued commitment to the
WaterSense program in 2023 as 2024 Partner of the Year Award winners.

Broward County Government

Broward County (Florida) Government has received their sixth
WaterSense Award, earning Partner of the Year for their efforts to help
consumers save both water and money. In 2023, Broward increased the
incentive for their toilet rebate program from $100 to $125 to encourage
more residents to replace their old, inefficient toilets. To promote the
increase, Broward started a campaign, "25 Things for $25," providing
residents with a variety of suggestions on how to use the extra $25 they
would receive as part of the rebate program. Suggestions included
purchasing a water filtration pitcher, investing in a reusable water bottle, and supporting local farmers by
purchasing fresh fruits and vegetables from nearby markets.

In March, Broward hosted a Water Matters Day event at Tree Tops Park featuring interactive educational
displays and booths where attendees had the opportunity to learn about various water conservation
techniques, smart irrigation practices, native landscaping, and more. The county hosted a hands-
on demonstration on optimizing irrigation system efficiency and a workshop showing the benefits of
installing a WaterSense labeled toilet. Broward County also promoted its toilet rebate program during this
event to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation.

Broward's toilet rebate program was also featured in a presentation to the Urban League of Broward
County for first-time homebuyers, showcasingthe importance of selecting water-efficient fixtures and
reminding attendees to make water-smart choices in their new homes. Looking to the future, Broward
County is partnering with the Minority Builders Coalition (MBC) to address any financial barriers to
switching to WaterSense labeled toilets. Broward aims to work with MBC to install more efficient toilets in
eligible homes free of charge.

&
pAirfrte/rskip

A Collaboration of
Local Governments.

CONSERVATION .COM

To learn more about WaterSense, visitwww.epa.gov/watersense.
(866) WTR-SENS (987-7367) | watersense@epa.gov

&EPA

832-F-24-017
September 2024


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2024 WaterSense Partner of the Year Winners

City of Bend

The City of Bend (Oregon) took outdoor water conservation to new
heights, earning their first Partner of the Year Award for their water
conservation outreach and programs in 2023. More than 200 people
attended the City's annual WaterWise field day event in June, which
CITY OF BEND included educational seminars presented by local green industry
water services	professionals and live irrigation demonstrations to promote ways to

save water outdoors. The City collaborated with WaterSense partner
G3, Green Gardens Group, to present multiple webinars on outdoor water conservation topics, including
drought-proofing landscapes, fundamentals of drip irrigation, and a garden design workshop.

Outdoor education was also featured in the City's quarterly newsletter,
the Conservation Connection, with an article on the benefits,
application, and performance of WaterSense labeled sprinkler
nozzles for residents and green industry professionals. The City also
encouraged residents to use irrigation professionals certified by a
WaterSense labeled program. To promote water savings indoors,
the City held a social media raffle contest during Fix a Leak Week;
participants who submitted photos of themselves checking for leaks
had a chance to win a WaterSense labeled toilet, showerhead, and
faucet aerators.

The City of Bend continued to offer rebates on WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers, spray sprinkler
bodies, toilets, and showerheads in 2023—more than doubling the number of rebates they issued in
2022. The City advertised its rebates on local television network affiliates and promoted the WaterSense
label with point-of-sale signage at stores such as The Home Depot, Lowe's Home Improvement, Ewing,
and Horizon Distributors.

City of Flagstaff

A banner year of creative outreach and educational programs gave
the City of Flagstaff (Arizona) their first WaterSense Partner of the Year
Award. The City started out the year by participating in the Flagstaff
Visitors Center's annual Chocolate Walk in February 2023. Staff gave
samples and discussed the embodied water in the production of
chocolate, while providing WaterSense labeled products and other
water-efficient giveaways. In April, the City organized a scavenger hunt
with local nonprofit organizations to promote water conservation and
give away WaterSense labeled showerheads and faucet aerators.

The City hosted trivia nights during the month of April to help educate the community about Flagstaff
water resources and ways to save water; participants could win WaterSense labeled products. In the
fall, the City participated on a climate panel for the annual Festival of Science at Lowell Observatory,
where they discussed water efficiency and WaterSense and gave out WaterSense labeled faucet aerators

The City of Bend staff at a tabling event.

(4*1 FLAGSTAFF

W\ WATER

SERVICES

WATER RESOURCES
& CONSERVATION

2


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2024 WaterSense Partner of the Year Winners

and showerheads. In October 2023, the City provided over 400 Home
Water Check-up Kits during the Make a Difference Day recycling event,
including supplies to checkfor leaks and a WaterSense labeled faucet
aerator.

During the Northern Arizona University's Better World Film Series, the
City hosted a documentary screening and presentation focused on
WaterSense labeled products. The City of Flagstaff also created a large-
scale "connect four" game and a cornhole set using the WaterSense
label for attendees to play. In addition to these events, the City gave
away and issued rebates on nearly 4,000 WaterSense labeled fixtures to
Flagstaff residents.

The WaterSense label on a cornhole
game.

ROUND ROCK

TEXAS

City of Round Rock

With a solid showing in its promotion of WaterSense and water
efficiency in 2023, the City of Round Rock (Texas) has earned its second
Partner of the Year Award. For Fix a Leak Week, the City created a new
educational video showing residents how to detect leaks at home by
reading their water meter and how to locate leaks in sprinkler systems,
water softeners, water heaters, toilets, faucets, and spigots. The City
posted the video on its conservation page and sent it to customers with
water leak notifications.

To encourage more indoor water savings, the City of Round Rock identified older homes in their
community where many still have original toilets and other bathroom fixtures. The City sent postcards
promoting their Better Bathroom Rebate to encourage over 1,600 customers to switch to WaterSense
labeled bathroom fixtures. In addition to plumbing fixtures, the City offered rebates on WaterSense
labeled irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies.

During Smart Irrigation Month in July, the City of Round Rock hosted an Irrigation 101 class covering
efficient irrigation scheduling, detecting system leaks, minor repairs with hands-on practice, native
landscaping, and various irrigation components. The City also collaborated with Williamson County
AgriLife Extension Services and other neighboring water utilities to implement an education event called
Irrigation Station aimed at residential outdoor water use. The events included a presentation on water
issues, such as supply, distribution, and water restrictions, as well as an open forum with stations
dedicated to sprinkler scheduling, maintenance, upgrades, and landscaping.

East Bay Municipal Utility District

The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) in California won their
first WaterSense Partner of the Year Award after making waves on the
West Coast helping consumers and businesses save water. During Fix a
Leak Week, for example, the utility provided toilet leak detection tablets
and fliers at local hardware stores to help customers find and fix leaks

EBMUD

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2024 WaterSense Partner of the Year Winners

at home. On social media, they created Instagram reels with short video
reminders to turn off irrigation systems during wet weather. The utility
even has a multilingual video library on YouTube on how to save water
in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Theirvideo in Spanish on howto fix a
toilet leak has been viewed over 200,000 times and has been popular in
California and Mexico.

As part of its regional conservation efforts, EBMUD collaborated with
other WaterSense partners on the 20th anniversary Water Conservation
Showcase, which had over 300 attendees and featured speakers on a
range of topics from legislation to landscaping best practices. EBMUD
also organizes and hosts in-person and virtual workshops on topics
such as sheet mulching, biodiversity, and drip irrigation.

To encourage customers to pursue lawn conversion projects and
choose appropriate plants and irrigation design, the district launched a Pilot Landscape Design
Assistance Program offering a two-hour consultation with a professional landscape designer. EBMUD
staff also regularly host virtual drop-in sessions over Zoom to answer questions about landscape rebate
projects.

Monte Vista Water District

Monte Vista Water District in Montclair, California, earned their first
Partner of the Year Award by implementing WaterSense campaigns
and water conservation initiatives throughout the year. During Fix a
Leak Week, for example, customers were provided information on
the District's rebate programs to replace inefficient outdoor products
with WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers and spray sprinkler bodies. In collaboration with EcoTech
Services, the District introduced a new Indoor Leak Repair Program, assisting 22 customers with 26
fixture repairs. And during a Leak Repair 101 Workshop, attendees received hands-on instruction on
fixing leaks, efficient irrigation maintenance tips, and leak repair kits.

The District hosted its first-ever Waterwise Expo in April 2023, showcasing the benefits of California
native plants, efficient irrigation techniques, and strategies for maximizing water savings. For Sprinkler
Spruce-Up, they promoted their SprinklerTimer Program, Nozzle
Retrofit Program, and Irrigation Tune-up Program. A partnership
with the Monte Vista Chamber of Commerce also helped spread
WaterSense messages to the business community. In June, Monte
Vista Water District hosted a Sustainable Landscaping Lunch & Learn
to help property managers and maintenance teams work together to
improve commercial landscape water use.

On social media, the Monte Vista Water District promoted Water Tip
Wednesdays and their Water Watch campaign in response to ongoing
drought conditions. They also encouraged public commitment to water

"We are creating a JS
'conservation culture' Y
focused on engaging
customers through
multimedia channels that
emphasize everyday actions
around our homes and
yards that help people make
informed decisions about
their water use."

Charles Bohlig, EBMUD
Manager of Water
Conservation



The District encouraging residents to
take the I'm for Water Pledge.


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2024 WaterSense Partner of the Year Winners

conservation through the I'm for Water Pledge, receiving 557 responses. The District also celebrated Fix a
Leak Week with social media posts and a raffle forthe installation of a WaterSense labeled toilet.

Moulton Niguel Water District

Moulton Niguel Water District in Laguna Hills, California, earned Partner

moulton niguel water district of the Year_1their first WaterSense Award—for promoting WaterSense

campaigns and their own water conservation programs on fixing leaks
and smart irrigation. The District spread the word about WaterSense in guides, direct mailers, social
media, website posts, and doorhangers. During Fix a Leak Week, they mailed 55,000 dye strips and
encouraged customers to test their toilets for leaks. The mailer included links to their "Potty Talk" video
series on YouTube. Customers that submitted their leak test results were eligible to win one of 100 $25
gift cards to use for leak repairs.

In partnership with numerous agencies and cities, the District hosted
a homeowner association networking event promoting incentives
for WaterSense labeled products. Moulton Niguel also coordinated
installation of 441 WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation
controllers (WBICs) in the community, including 26 commercial-grade
units; most of the WBICs were installed through their Smart Sprinkler
Timer Direct Installation Program. These efforts are projected to save
over 19.7 million gallons of water.

Moulton Niguel participated in an irrigation-focused "Fall Back"
campaign, which featured videos on water-wise irrigation, a speakers
bureau program, and Smart Irrigation Month workshops. They also
provided an irrigation certification program to educate professionals
on smart outdoor water techniques and hosted water-smart landscape
classes for 400 customers, where they promoted water-efficient
spray sprinkler nozzles and WBICs using the "look for" WaterSense
promotional label. And as part of their school water fixture upgrade
program, the District retrofitted 215 toilets, 152 urinals, 590 faucets,
and 133 showerheads in the Capistrano Unified School District.

Rancho California Water District

The Rancho California Water District in Temecula, California, has
earned its second Partner of the Year Award for consistently promoting
WaterSense campaigns. Rancho Water held a virtual workshop in May
2023 for Sprinkler Spruce-Up highlighting ways to promote healthy
landscapes and reduce water waste outdoors. They distributed the
WaterSense Jump Into Pool Water Efficiency Guide to pool contractors
and homeowners. Rancho Water promoted their own Be a Water Hero campaign encouraging residents
to use less water during drought conditions in California via their website, social media, and paid
advertising that reached over 400,000 people.

"Our team is dedicated to
making a tangible impact
through initiatives like our
Fix a Leak Week, smart
irrigation programs, and
school fixture upgrades. We
believe that by empowering
our residents and partnering
with local agencies, we can
drive meaningful change
and conserve our precious
water resources for future
generations."

Duane D. Cave, Board
President, Moulton Niguel
Water District

©Bucho
Water

WORKING FOR OUR COMMUNITY

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2024 WaterSense Partner of the Year Winners

Rancho Water collaborated with a diverse range of WaterSense partners to promote saving water.

With Lowe's Home Improvement, they created a video promoting WaterSense labeled products and
water conservation information, which they shared on social media. The utility promoted efficient
irrigation practices through partnerships with the Riverside County Flood District and Blue Watch
Dog Conservation District. Rancho Water collaborated with the Murrieta Public Library to designate
a section of the library for Fix a Leak Week with various WaterSense materials such as leak detective
kids' activities, bath hacks, bookmarks, and Fix a Leak at Home activity. Their dedicated landscape
website, Temecula Murrieta In Bloom, provided information on water-efficient landscaping practices and
sustainable gardening.

Rancho Water demonstrated their commitment to promoting
WaterSense labeled products throughout 2023. Working in partnership
with Rachio and the California Water Efficiency Partnership, they
distributed 200 WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation
controllers and partnered with the Southern California Gas Company
on a direct install program providing free WaterSense labeled
showerheads and other water-efficient appliances to disadvantaged
communities. They also participated in regional rebate programs
offered by the Metropolitan Water District, covering a range of items

r	,	The Rancho Water mascot promoting its

from turf replacements to WaterSense labeled sprinkler nozzles.	Be a water Hero campaign.

a	Santa Clara Valley Water District

/	valler. Water Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) in San Jose, California,

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has earned their second Partner of the Year Award for actively
promoting water conservation through a variety of educational and
incentive programs. Valley Water engaged students through hands-on activities in classrooms and after-
school programs, which included assemblies, field trips, and Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts,
and Mathematics (STEAM) events focused on water conservation. Valley Water held 15 summer camp
programs in collaboration with organizations such as the YMCA and Boys & Girls Clubs of America, as
well as six assemblies with the City of San Jose's Walk n' Roll program. During the assemblies, students
took a pledge to save water, led by Valley Water's "H2Cool" mascot, and received WaterSense-inspired
educational materials.

In 2023, Valley Water's eCart Program distributed free water-saving
devices throughout Santa Clara County, including over 850 WaterSense
labeled showerheads, 1,100 aerators, and Do-lt-Yourself Water Wise
Surveys inspired by WaterSense leak checklists. Valley Water's Fixture
Replacement Program installed over 1,700 WaterSense labeled toilets
and 16 showerheads. Their Landscape Rebate Program incentivizes
properties with qualifying landscapes to replace existing lawn and pool

areas with drought-tolerant landscapes, rainwater capture systems,	valley water teaching students about

and upgrading outdated irrigation systems; through the program, Valley saving water.

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2024 WaterSense Partner of the Year Winners

Water rebated 428 WaterSense labeled weather-based irrigation controllers and over 2,300 WaterSense
labeled spray sprinkler bodies in 2023.

Valley Water also piloted new programs, including the Leak Assessment & Repair Pilot and Toilet
Assessment & Retrofit Pilot, in partnership with PG&E. Through these initiatives, Valley Water installed
more than 100 WaterSense labeled toilets, 66 WaterSense labeled lavatory faucets, 20 kitchen faucets,
and 45 outdoor hose bibs. Valley Water also sponsored two Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL)
trainings in Spanish and English, certifying 47 professionals in 2023.

Tarrant Regional Water District

Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) in Fort Worth, Texas, has
earned their second Partner of the Year Award by working with their
customer cities to promote WaterSense and water efficiency at various
educational events. In 2023, TRWD held over 230 water conservation
classes and events, reaching over 15,400 participants. Posting class recordings on YouTube gained an
additional 93,000 viewers! In collaboration with other water districts and utilities, TRWD offered two Fix
a Leak Week workshops on finding and fixing leaks inside and outside the home. Attendees heard from
leak-fixing experts and saw hands-on demonstrations, then an indoor leak kit or a sprinkler test kit was
provided for participants to take home.

During the hottest months of the year, TRWD offered a Summer Savings Series of online classes to all
of its customer cities, including Be Smarter Than Your Smart Controller, Home Sprinkler Basics, and
DIY Sprinkler Repair. They also participated in a regional water conservation advertising campaign with
the City of Dallas and North Texas Municipal Water District, which included a weekly watering advice
service that promoted smart lawn watering techniques. When winter
rolled around, TRWD promoted WaterSense labeled products as part
of the Holiday Gift Guide on their website and in the Save Tarrant Water
Monthly Drop newsletter.

Throughout 2023, TRWD conducted drawings for water conservation-
related prizes in conjunction with WaterSense campaigns such as Your
Better Yard, Smart Irrigation Month, and Shower Better. To be entered in
the drawing, customers could read a web page or blog post and answer
questions to win native Texas plant garden kits, WaterSense labeled
smart irrigation controllers, or a shower savings kit that included two
WaterSense labeled showerheads. During Shower Better Month, TRWD
provided WaterSense labeled showerheads to nearly 200 residents who
brought their old showerheads into their local water utility offices.

trwdt

A winner of a drawing for a WaterSense
labeled controller.

Learn More

WaterSense congratulates the 2024 Partner of Year Award winners. For more information and to learn
about all the benefits of partnership, visit www.epa.gov/watersense.


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