City of Boca Raton Mayor, Susan Haynie, presented two proclamations for the month of April; Florida Water Professionals Month and Water Conservation Month which also proclaimed the week of May 6 – 12 as National Drinking Water Week.
The proclamations focus on the importance of water conservation and urge the citizens of the City of Boca Raton and all people worldwide to help protect water from pollution, to practice water conservation and to understand the importance of drinking water to local communities as well as recognizing water and wastewater professionals and their continued high quality service.
According to Justin Barrington, Treatment Operations Manager, through education and outreach water conservation programs, the expansion of the City’s reclaimed water facility to 100% reuse, and the dedication of Boca Raton residents to conserve, the City has reduced per capita water use 45% in the last 30 years and 15% in the last decade. The 15% conservation alone equates to an annual household savings of 2,000 gallons per year and 105 million gallons per year throughout the City’s service area.
As part of Utility Services conservation programs, the department has created a comprehensive outreach program that has reached over 30,000 students and residents in the last decade. This includes giving tours of City facilities, lecturing at Universities, having booths at multiple city-wide and environmental events, and the Drop Savers Program.
The Drop Savers Program is an annual Water Conservation Poster Contest hosted by the Florida Section of the American Water Works Association (FSAWWA) in conjunction with the City’s Utility Services Department. Students grades K-5 from local schools participate by creating their very own Water Conservation posters to describe what water conservation means to them. This year the department received 900 submissions. Utility Services selected winners from each grade and individual school as well as the top three posters that will be submitted to the FSAWWA State Contest. The three students were presented with a certificate and gift certificate by Mayor Susan Haynie at the City Council Regular Meeting on April 10.
Congratulations to the following winners of the Water Conservation Poster Contest!
