The Water Authority and its 24 member retail water agencies recognize and thank the following organizations for their support of the 20-Gallon Challenge and actions to help this region achieve its water savings goals.

Tierrasanta HOA Landscape Coalition

The Tierrasanta Homeowner Association Landscape Coalition supports the 20-Gallon Challenge through its proactive efforts to provide a forum to discuss ideas to save water in landscape areas. The coalition, comprised of representatives from various Tierrasanta HOAs, recognizes the importance of updating their landscape and irrigation systems so they are more suitable to San Diego's current climate and limited water supply.

The Tierrasanta HOA Landscape Coalition has been meeting monthly and held a workshop in July 2008. Approximately 50 homeowners, board members, landscape professionals, property managers, irrigation consultants and contractors, and suppliers of irrigation equipment participated.

Interested Tierrasanta HOA board members, property management firms, landscape committee members, and landscape maintenance professionals are invited to attend upcoming meetings/workshops. Board members from other HOAs interested in forming their own coalition are also invited to participate. For more information or to find out about upcoming meeting dates, please contact Pat Richter at patrichter@sbcglobal.net or (858) 571-7099. To find out about rebates available to HOAs, click here or check out the "Saving Water and Money for Your HOA" workshop.

Avalon at Mission Bay

Avalon at Mission Bay supports the 20-Gallon Challenge by taking actions to reduce its water use. Avalon at Mission Bay used Water2Save's wireless weather irrigation service that adjusts the amount of water applied to aesthetic landscapes using highly advanced technology and NWS weather data to monitor and control existing irrigation controllers and clocks. By doing this, Avalon has saved 67 percent of their normal outdoor consumption since June 2007. This amounts to 2,739,774 gallons of water in 10 months!

Click here for more information on Avalon at Mission Bay.

The Fish Merchant

The Fish Merchant located at 7005 Navajo Road in the Allied Gardens/San Carlos area supports the 20-Gallon Challenge and the region’s conservation efforts by taking actions to reduce its water use. The restaurant staff serves water upon request rather than setting the table with filled water glasses and waits to run the dishwasher until it is full. By doing this The Fish Merchant has reduced its water use by 40 percent.

For directions, click here or for more information on The Fish Merchant, call 619-462-3811.

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar supports the 20-Gallon Challenge by practicing water-use efficiency. In 2007, MCAS decreased its potable/drinking water consumption by more than 29,000,000 gallons. Currently under construction are two additional projects that will save more than 40,000,000 gallons of drinking water. These projects include converting potable water for irrigation to recycled water and retrofitting existing automatic stand-alone and manual controllers. MCAS is also recognized as this month's Super Water Saver by the Water Authority and KGTV Channel 10.

Click here to find out more about MCAS as a Super Water Saver.

Click here to find out how businesses, organizations (such as HOAs), or public agencies in San Diego County that have taken action to become an exemplary water saver can be nominated as a Super Water Saver.

Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego

The Manchester Grand Hyatt San Diego supports the 20-Gallon Challenge as part of its commitment to sustainable practices. The 40-story hotel, the largest on the west coast waterfront, introduced an advanced laundry water reuse system, which saves more than 3,000 gallons of water per day. The hotel has also developed a 'Green Team" of employees that review achievement of green objectives and recommend ways to conserve water, recycle and reduce energy use. The Hyatt, with 1,625 guest rooms, also places in-room cards that ask guests to help the hotel take shorter showers and reuse towels and linens.

Click here for more information on the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

The San Diego Natural History Museum supports the 20-Gallon Challenge campaign by offering a $2 discount on general admission to guests who have made the 20-Gallon Challenge pledge. The museum will host an international exhibit about water, “Water: H₂O = Life,” from July 19 through November 30. The exhibit also will feature a 2,800-square foot side exhibit titled, “Water: A California Story,” about local and California water issues that will remain in place for about two years. Museum officials want exhibit visitors to come away understanding that everyone needs to think about using water more wisely and motivated to increase their conservation behaviors. The museum is also supporting the challenge by including the 20-Gallon Challenge logo on its print advertising for the water exhibition, creating a series of water-wise local TV spots providing tips on how to save water, and posting the 20-Gallon Challenge website on the museum’s website.

To receive a $2 discount off adult general admission at the San Diego Natural History Museum for up to 4 people, please take the pledge here and click Submit Form. Once you submit the form, print a copy of your certificate and present it to the museum located at 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101. May not be combined with any other discounts. Expires December 31, 2008.

For directions, hours, and to learn more about “Water: H₂O = Life” or “Water: A California Story,” click here.

San Diego Museum of Man

The San Diego Museum of Man in Balboa Park is promoting the 20-Gallon Challenge by offering a discount on general admission to guests who have made the 20-Gallon Challenge pledge to save more water and by making water conservation tips available at the museum. Its newest exhibition, "Beyond Reasonable Drought: Water and Culture in a Changing Climate," opens July 12 and explores the relationship between people and changing water conditions along the Colorado River, from the American Southwest to San Diego County.

To receive a $2 discount off adult admission to the Museum of Man, and $1 off other admission prices, fill out the pledge form and click Submit Form. Once you submit the form, print a copy of your certificate, and take it to the museum to receive your discount for up to 4 people.

For directions, hours, and to learn more about Beyond Reasonable Drought, click here.

San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

The San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce supports the 20-Gallon Challenge campaign through informing its 3,000 member companies across the San Diego region about the need to conserve water. Chamber officials also have supported the 20-Gallon Challenge at Water Authority news events, participating in tours of the region’s imported water facilities, and by publishing an article on the water situation in the winter 2008 edition of Business Action. To read this article click here.

Urban Land Institute San Diego/Tijuana
Smart Growth Awards

The Urban Land Institute San Diego/Tijuana will promote the 20-Gallon Challenge campaign at its 4th Annual Smart Growth Awards ceremony on June 26 through distributing materials on the campaign and by encouraging the community to take water conservation into account when planning for the future. The Smart Growth Awards recognize outstanding and innovative projects, plans, and people that advance the application of smart growth and sustainability principles in land use. Water conservation is an important component of the smart growth principles that the Smart Growth Awards recognizes. The Water Authority’s web-driven regional water budget management system program is a nominee for the awards ceremony. This user-friendly web-based landscape water budget program will estimate how much water is needed to maintain a healthy landscape, based on state parameters of climate conditions, plant type, and irrigation efficiency.

Food and Beverage Association - San Diego Chapter

The Food and Beverage Association of San Diego County is supporting the 20-Gallon Challenge campaign by encouraging its 850 members to only serve water on request at their establishments, which reduces water needed for serving and dishwashing. The chapter also is helping the Water Authority develop and distribute outreach materials to inform employees and patrons about the 20-Gallon Challenge and the need to increase water conservation.

Surfrider Foundation (San Diego Chapter)

The Surfrider Foundation San Diego County Chapter supports the 20-Gallon Challenge because conserving water reduces the amount of pollutants that can find their way from our communities into our watersheds, beaches, bays, and ocean waters. Conserving water also reduces pressure on sewage treatment systems resulting in fewer sewage spills and less partially treated sewage that enters the ocean. Surfrider is encouraging greater water conservation through promoting the 20-Gallon Challenge via its website and other communication channels, and by promoting its Ocean Friendly Gardens campaign, which promotes landscapes and actions that use less water and reduce pollution from urban runoff.

Farm Bureau of San Diego County

The Farm Bureau of San Diego County is supporting the 20-Gallon Challenge for voluntary water conservation, because managing the region’s water resources wisely is vital for the health and prosperity of San Diego’s $1.46-billion-a-year agriculture industry. The Farm Bureau is educating its 5,000 members about the 20-Gallon Challenge campaign and is working with its members to increase participation in conservation efforts offered by local water agencies.

BIOCOM

A reliable water supply is important for the vitality of the San Diego region’s life sciences industry. That’s why BIOCOM, a premier life science industry association representing more than 550 member companies in Southern California, supports the 20-Gallon Challenge campaign for voluntary water conservation and is helping to promote the campaign to its members.

Cox Communications

Cox Communications is supporting the 20-Gallon Challenge as part of its Cox Conserves program with the goal of reducing its company-wide carbon footprint by 20 percent over the next 10 years. Cox is promoting the 20-Gallon Challenge to its employees and customers via its website, newsletter, and billing statements.

In addition, Cox is partnering with the Water Conservation Garden through its “We Stand 4” awareness campaign on Cox Channel 4, which focuses on community issues and needs in four core areas: education, health and human services, social services, and the environment. As part of its environmental focus, Cox is working with the Garden and the Water Authority on short TV reports designed to raise awareness of outdoor water conservation techniques.

To find out more about Cox Conserves click here.

For more information about Cox Communications click here.

Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council, Inc.

Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council is supporting the 20-Gallon Challenge by promoting the water conservation campaign to its 40,000 girl and adult members. The council is providing information in its three resource centers and publishing water conservation articles in its Program News newsletter. Girl Scouts also have an opportunity to participate in a Water Authority-sponsored patch program that encourages Girl Scouts and their families to use water wisely and educates them about saving water around their homes.

San Diego Gas & Electric

San Diego Gas & Electric is helping the San Diego region save water and energy by co-funding a program that offers a $175 voucher toward the purchase of residential high-efficiency clothes washers. These machines use 65% less water and 55% less energy per load than standard top-loading machines. The program is co-funded by the San Diego County Water Authority, its participating member agencies, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. A portion of the program is also co-funded by California ratepayers and is administered by SDG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. For more info. click here.

For more information call the Voucher Processing Center at (800) 986-4538. The Processing Center is open Monday – Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

SDG&E also is sharing information about the 20-Gallon Challenge on its website and in customer mailings as part of its “Go Green. Save Green” campaign to promote energy efficiency and resource conservation.

California Landscape Contractors Association - San Diego Chapter

The San Diego Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association is supporting the 20-Gallon Challenge by asking its more than 250 contractor members to promote water conservation to their clients and achieve a 15 percent reduction in outdoor water use. The association is encouraging its members to become certified through CLCA’s Water Management Certification Program, the city of San Diego’s Landscape Watering Calculator, and items from the Water Authority’s Smart Landscape program to help achieve these savings. 


Quail Botanical Gardens

Quail Botanical Gardens supports the 20-Gallon Challenge through its use of recycled water. Scenic trails at Quail Botanical Gardens allow visitors glimpses of many different horticultural habitats, many of which are irrigated with recycled water. Quail has used recycled water for three years and was the first botanical garden in California to use recycled water. Currently, Quail uses approximately seven acre-feet of recycled water annually in its gardens and is expected to expand recycled water use up to 25 acre-feet annually in the near future. Quail Botanical Gardens was recently recognized by the WateReuse Association as the 2007 Recycled Water Irrigation Customer of the Year.

Quail Botanical Gardens also supports the 20-Gallon Challenge through the use of drought tolerant plants and landscapes including artificial turf that is interpreted as an alternative to the water thirsty lawn. In addition, the Gardens is posting the 20-Gallon Challenge information on its website and in its newsletter. For more information on Quail Botanical Gardens click here.



Cassidy Medical Group, Inc.

Cassidy Medical Group, Inc., a medical services provider located in Vista, supports the 20-Gallon Challenge through its participation in the San Diego County Water Authority and Vista Irrigation District’s Commercial Industrial and Institutional voucher program, saving considerable amounts of water.

In March 2006, Cassidy Medical Group replaced their cooling tower conductivity controller (CTCC). A CTCC manages the water that is used in cooling towers. By replacing the CTCC on older model cooling towers, the tower’s efficiency can be greatly improved.

Cassidy Medical Group’s four year average annual usage was nearly 1.3 million gallons. Since replacing the CTCC their usage has dropped to nearly 840,000 gallons, a savings of almost 437,000 gallons annually or more than 34 percent of their previous water use.



Golf Course Superintendents Association of America - San Diego Chapter

The San Diego Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, a professional organization for golf course superintendents and leading suppliers to the industry, is supporting the 20-Gallon Challenge by promoting the campaign to its 335 members in its bimonthly newsletter and on its website.

With the cost and availability of water serving as a major challenge for golf operations, the association is encouraging members to adopt the following water-saving practices: installing in-house weather stations and sensors that adjust irrigation systems to weather changes, utilizing drought-tolerant turf such as bermuda grass, reducing turf use in areas that do not impact golf play, and limiting over-seeding.

Many golf courses already are saving considerable amounts of water through these practices. For example, reducing over-seeding by 50 percent can save more than 4 million gallons of water annually for a typical golf course.



Jack in the Box

The corporate office for Jack in the Box Inc. supports the 20-Gallon Challenge and promotes it as part of its 'Green Scene' program for its employees, along with other environmentally responsible actions. In February, Jack in the Box held a lunch and learn for its corporate employees to educate them on the region's water issues and give them the tools and resources necessary to conserve water at work and at home.

In addition, Jack in the Box is taking part in the Water Authority's Smart Landscape Grant Programs and will install several weather-based irrigation controllers at its corporate headquarters in Kearny Mesa. Jack in the Box is dedicated to conserving water at its corporate locations around San Diego County and has seen a reduction in water use since joining the 20-Gallon Challenge and using the tips featured on the website, including turning off their outdoor sprinklers during recent rains. For more information about Jack in the Box click here.

Southeastern Economic Development Corporation

The Southeastern Economic Development Corporation supports the 20-Gallon Challenge and promotes the 20-Gallon Challenge in its "Connection" newsletter and on the SEDC website. In Spring, SEDC will hold a "How to Design a Water Conservation Landscape" workshop further promoting the 20-Gallon Challenge. Members of the San Diego Chapter of the America Society of Landscape Architects will conduct the workshop as well as complimentary landscape consultations. For more information click here.

SEDC is educating the public on retrofitting the region’s thirsty lawns with drought-tolerant landscapes while at the same time providing an opportunity to participate in the revitalization of their community at the level of an individual homeowner. Utilizing native or drought-tolerant plants adapted to our climate can create substantial water and cost savings.

California Center for Sustainable Energy

The California Center for Sustainable Energy is supporting the 20-Gallon Challenge as part of its mission to foster policies and programs that promote sustainable and efficient energy technologies and practices. The Center is promoting the 20-Gallon Challenge to its members and the public via its website, newsletter, and as part of events such as Solar Energy Week. For more information click here.

California Restaurant Association - San Diego Chapter

The San Diego chapter of the California Restaurant Association is supporting the 20-Gallon Challenge campaign by encouraging its 1,300 members to only serve water on request, which reduces water needed for serving and dishwashing. The chapter also is helping the Water Authority develop and distribute outreach materials to inform restaurant employees and patrons about the 20-Gallon Challenge and the need to increase water conservation.

Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation

The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation is supporting the 20-Gallon Challenge for water conservation by producing and airing a TV announcement urging the region to save more water as part of its award-winning Community Awareness program. To see the television spot click here.

The Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation also is practicing water use efficiency by using a wastewater treatment plant to treat on average about 100,000 gallons of water a day. Water from this facility is treated and disinfected, recycled for landscape irrigation and nonpotable uses in gaming and administration facilities. For more information on Sycuan click here.

If your community group or organization would like to learn more about the 20-Gallon Challenge, water supply reliability, or other critical water issues affecting the San Diego region, visit our Speakers' Bureau web page or contact Teresa Penunuri, Community Relations Representative at tpenunuri@sdcwa.org to request a speaker. The Speakers' Bureau is a free service to the community.