iEfficient Customers Are Top Water Savers in Southern California

INLAND EMPIRE, Calif., Oct. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- As California enters its fourth consecutive year of drought, residents across the Inland Empire are successfully partnering with their water agencies to reduce water use. Many local water providers have saved substantially more water than the 11.5 percent statewide average savings that were announced last week by the State Water Resources Control Board.

Collectively, Californians used almost 27 billion gallons less this past August than they did in August of 2013. The region's top saver in August was East Valley Water District (EVWD), an iEfficient partner, with a 24 percent decrease in water demand. In July, EVWD also achieved a 15.5 percent decrease.

"Part of the decrease is likely due to the rebate programs the district implemented in July of 2013," said John Mura, general manager of EVWD, which serves a population of nearly 100,000 in Highland and San Bernardino. "The district's efforts and partnership with the iEfficient campaign have made a significant impact on our customers' understanding of just how crucial saving water is across our entire region."

Four other iEfficient partners were listed as top water savers. The others include: Rialto Water Services, with 19.6 percent; the City of Redlands, with 16.4 percent; San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District and Yucaipa Valley Water District, both with 15 percent.  "Inland Empire customers can take pride in setting an example for water users across California," says Amanda Kasten, Water Conservation Coordinator at West Valley Water District and a partner in the iEfficient effort.  "By working together, we are able to share the conservation message more effectively, and help more people than ever participate in a sustainable future."

iEfficient, launched in July of 2014, is a multimedia public outreach campaign focused on water conservation. Made up of 22 partner agencies across the Inland Empire, the campaign connects customers of all these agencies with the tools they need to make their indoor and outdoor water use more efficient. The website features water-saving tips, rebate information, educational tools and more. 

Many partner agencies offer rebates to their customers to encourage water use efficiency. These rebates allow residents and businesses to do things like: purchase low-flow toilets; buy efficient dishwashers and washing machines; remove turf; and improve their irrigation systems. Since most water in the Inland Empire is used outdoors, iEfficient focuses on helping people make their yards more water efficient.

iEfficient helps families and businesses transform their yards using drought-tolerant plants and water-efficient design. One of iEfficient's key partners is Water Saving Garden Friendly (WSGF), a gateway that connects residents with local information about water-saving plants they can use when converting their landscapes. Bob Tincher, Manager of Water Resources at San Bernardino Valley Municipal Water District, an iEfficient partner, strongly supports the WSGF commitment to helping the iEfficient cause: "Our goal is to educate our customers about just how beautiful drought-tolerant landscaping can be."

To learn more about Water Saving Garden Friendly, visit WaterSavingGardenFriendly.com. To learn more about water-saving tips, available rebates and regional water conservation events, visit iEfficient.com.  

iEfficient.com connects customers to existing tools and provides information on how to put those resources to work protecting local water resources. The site, and a mobile app under development, marries the knowledge and experience of IE water agencies and local governments, making conservation convenient for residents and businesses alike.

SOURCE iEfficient

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