Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge Competition

Photo for Conserving Water

Each year during the month of April, cities across the United States participate in the annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation (Mayor’s Challenge). With no cost to cities or taxpayers, the Mayor’s Challenge offers a unique and compelling way to motivate residents to conserve water.

How it works: Each year, residents participate on behalf of their city by completing a series of online conservation pledges at www.mywaterpledge.com that encourage positive behavior changes. Cities that collect the most pledges within their population category win the title of most water-wise city in the nation. One national winner is selected each year for the following five population categories: 5000-29,999, 30k-99,999, 100k-299,999, 300k-599,999, and 600k+. Contest winners are typically announced by the Wyland Foundation in the month following the close of the competition.

Also, as an added incentive for Orange County cities, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) and the Wyland Foundation have partnered to create an award-winning Orange County breakaway competition of the Mayor’s Challenge. One lucky city within MWDOC’s service area with the most pledges received by their citizens will win a visit from the Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center, a state-of-the-art 1,000 sq. ft. bio-diesel science museum on wheels.

2023 Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge Flyer
2023 MWDOC-Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge toolkit

Special thanks to National Presenting Partner Toyota – in association with the Toro Company – for their continued support of the Wyland’s National Mayor’s Challenge and Orange County breakaway competition!

How Pocket Parks Engage Communities

California has a diverse selection of flora. Desert, forest, and island regions across the state have adapted to California’s climate, soils, and low rainfall. A water-smart demonstration garden – or “Pocket Park” – that is easily accessible to the public serves as a community model for efficient landscaping by allowing visitors to learn more about practical water-saving irrigation techniques (regardless of plant selection) and California Friendly plant options. Visitors can also learn more about the appropriate use of permeable surfaces and the benefits of rain gardens and infiltration pits. These techniques allow rainwater to be filtered into the landscape, replenishing groundwater while preventing excessive runoff and pollution affecting our waterways and oceans.

2019 Pocket Park Winner

On May 21, 2019, the City of San Clemente was named the 2019 MWDOC-Wyland Orange County breakaway competition winner for their stellar participation in the 8th annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. In 2019, San Clemente alone collected almost 2,700 pledges from community members, committing to reduce the City’s water use by over 9 million gallons from May 2019 until April 2020, when the Mayor’s Challenge would have officially begun again.

MWDOC, the Wyland Foundation, Saddleback College, and City staff have been working together to begin the design process for the Pocket Park awarded to the City as the 2019 Orange County breakaway competition incentive. Keep watching this space for updates on this Orange County water-smart project!

2018 Pocket Park Winner

In 2018, the City of Westminster won the National Mayor’s Challenge for their population category and the Orange County breakaway contest. This was the second year in a row since the MWDOC-Wyland Foundation partnership’s inception that an Orange County city has won the National Challenge.

In 2018, the award for the Orange County breakaway competition winner was a water-smart Pocket Park. The completed demonstration garden was unveiled on June 2, 2023. Visit https://www.ocwatersmartparks.com/westminster to learn more about the Coronet Watersmart Demonstration Garden design, water-saving landscape techniques, available rebates, project partners, and more!

 

Take the pledge today and help your city win BIG! www.mywaterpledge.com.

For questions related to this program, please contact Tiffany Baca at tbaca@mwdoc.com or (714) 593-5013