Welcome to the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s (MWDOC) August 2020 eCurrents newsletter. In this issue, we’re kicking off National Water Quality Month by celebrating the 9th annual Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, which includes an exciting new way for your city to get actively involved. Also included, MWDOC increased the rebate amount to $0.50 for the Spray to Drip Program, making it even easier for Orange County residents to save water, time, and money. And finally, we offer more information on upcoming events like the virtual MWDOC Water Policy Forum featuring keynote speaker Michael George, State Water Resources Control Board, on Wednesday, September 23, 2020. All of this as well as several other announcements, program updates, and more is covered in this latest issue of eCurrents. As always, if you have any comments or suggested topics for future articles, please send us an email at mwdocinfo@mwdoc.com. Thank you for subscribing!
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MWDOC is governed by a seven-member Board of Directors. To learn more, click on the icon above, or visit our website at www.mwdoc.com.
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For a complete list of upcoming and archived MWDOC meetings, click on the calendar icon above, or visit our website at www.mwdoc.com.
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2020 MWDOC WATER POLICY FORUM
VIRTUAL SPEAKER SERIES: BAY DELTA
September 23, 2020
Please join us virtually on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, from 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM, for a very special MWDOC Water Policy Forum as we welcome keynote speaker Michael George, Delta Watermaster, State Water Resources Control Board. Mr. George will reflect on the past year’s developments with Delta Conveyance, and discuss future projects that will enhance Southern California’s water supplies and reliability.
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JOIN THE NATIONAL MAYOR'S CHALLENGE FOR WATER CONSERVATION
August 1-31
Join cities across the United States August 1-31 and take part in the revamped annual Wyland National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation (Mayor's Challenge). Participation is easy! Simply complete a series of online conservation pledges at mywaterpledge.com, and cities that collect the most pledges within their population category win the title of most water-wise city in the nation. As an added incentive to Orange County residents, the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) and the Wyland Foundation have joined together again to create a breakaway competition that this year will award the city within MWDOC’s service area with the highest participation in the National Challenge a separate prize.
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9th ANNUAL WYLAND NATIONAL MAYOR'S CHALLENGE FOR WATER CONSERVATION RETURNS!
Tiffany Baca, Public Affairs Manager, MWDOC
For nearly a decade, April has marked the kickoff of the Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation (Mayor’s Challenge). Held each year in celebration of Earth Month, the national competition encourages residents to use water more wisely, which in turn contributes to the health and security of our most precious natural resource. This year, due to restrictions associated with coronavirus, the 9th annual competition was postponed, and is set to relaunch this August 1-31 in recognition of National Water Quality Month. Participation in the Mayor’s Challenge has always been fast and easy. Residents simply complete...READ MORE
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REBATE AMOUNT INCREASES TO $0.50 FOR MWDOC SPRAY TO DRIP PROGRAM
Andrea Antony-Morr, Water Use Efficiency Analyst II, MWDOC
The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) is now offering an increased rebate of $0.50 per square foot of spray to drip conversion! The MWDOC Spray to Drip Rebate Program encourages Orange County residents to change their spray irrigation to a drip irrigation system, delivering water only where it is needed, at or near the plant’s roots. Water drips slowly from emitters either onto the soil surface or below ground...READ MORE
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WHETHER IN CLASS OR AT HOME, MWDOC PREPARES FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Sarah Wilson, Public Affairs Specialist, MWDOC
History has shown that each generation faces life-changing events that shape the physical, emotional, and financial health of societies. For Traditionalists, it was The Great Depression and World War II. Baby Boomers were molded by the Vietnam War and Civil Rights Movement. For Generation X it was the fall of the Berlin Wall, and 9/11 for Millennials. Now, Generation Z will forever be changed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The rapid spread of coronavirus has created rippling impacts across the world...READ MORE
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LET'S BE WATER SMART AS HOME GARDENING BLOOMS
Tiffany Baca, Public Affairs Manager, MWDOC
In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, nurseries and seed distributors have seen a huge spike in sales as people around the world are turning to gardening as a relaxing, family-friendly hobby with numerous benefits. From a health standpoint, stay-at-home orders have meant that many of the activities people enjoy and find purpose from have been difficult or even impossible to do. However, as studies have shown for decades, one mood-boosting hobby can be done alone or with others, on large or small plots, or even on a city balcony or small windowsill...READ MORE
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MWDOC EARNS MULTIPLE STATEWIDE COMMUNICATIONS AWARDS
California Association of Public Information Officials
The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC or District) Public Affairs team was awarded three (3) statewide honors for its outstanding efforts in public relations, campaign development, and communication strategies from the California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO). The team earned two (2) CAPIO EPIC (1st place) awards—one in the Communications and Marketing category for its annual Water Awareness Poster Contest, and another in Digital Communications for the Imagine a Day Without Water social media campaign. Additionally, Tiffany Baca, the District’s Public Affairs Manager, was honored with CAPIO’s prestigious Communicator of the Year Award. CAPIO’s annual awards program recognizes those whose ability to communicate positions them as the best in the field.
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MWDOC 2020 WATER AWARENESS POSTER CONTEST
Water is Life
The votes are in! Congratulations to the 32 winners and four (4) Grand Prize winners that were selected for the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s (MWDOC) 2020 Water Awareness Poster Contest. MWDOC’s annual poster contest encourages K-12 students across Orange County to creatively express their ideas about the importance of our most precious natural resource—WATER! This year, each student and their winning artwork was featured every day during the month of July on MWDOC’s Facebook page.
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Livia Yu, 5th grade
Grand Prize Winner
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Minki Shin, 10th grade
Grand Prize Winner
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Michaela Choi, 2nd grade
Grand Prize Winner
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Maxwell Ngo, 6th grade
Grand Prize Winner
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CHALK THE WALK K-12 ART CONTEST
SAVING WATER AT HOME TOGETHER
#SaveTogether
The top three (3) winners for the Municipal Water District of Orange County’s (MWDOC) #SaveTogether Chalk Art Contest have been announced! Orange County K-12 students were encouraged to participate by creating chalk art that reflected the theme “Saving Water at Home Together.” The Chalk the Walk Art Contest is an extension of MWDOC’s annual Water Awareness Poster Contest, and served as an additional way to support teachers and parents in keeping students engaged at home.
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Harley, 12th grade
Grand Prize Winner
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Kaylee, 8th grade
Runner-up
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Lilli, 7th grade
Runner-up
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CAPIO ANNOUNCES 2020 COMMUNICATOR OF THE YEAR
July 23, 2020
The California Association of Public Information Officials (CAPIO) is pleased to announce that Tiffany Baca, Public Affairs Manager for the Municipal Water District of Orange County has been honored with the 2020 Communicator of the Year Award. This award recognizes an individual who, in the judgment of the CAPIO Awards Committee and Board of Directors, demonstrates exceptional abilities, skills and talents in leading their organization to greater and more successful communications...READ MORE
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DIRECTOR BRETT R. BARBRE RETIRES FROM MWDOC BOARD
June 17, 2020
The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) announced the retirement of Director Brett R. Barbre after 20 years of service on the Board of Directors (Board) effective June 17, 2020. Director Barbre’s departure from the MWDOC Board comes after his appointment to the General Manager position at the Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD). Barbre was first elected to the MWDOC Board in November 2000 to represent Division I...READ MORE
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FAVORITE TWEETS AND POSTS |
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MWDOC's annual 'Water Awareness Poster Contest' encourages students to think about our most precious natural resource – WATER – and how access to clean, fresh drinking water affects their daily lives! Congratulations to Pranoy D. from the city of Irvine for earning a place as one of Orange County's 2020 Poster Contest winners!
- Facebook, July 5
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Did you know? The Colorado River Aqueduct (CRA) is a 242-mile water conveyance system that transports water from Lake Havasu on the California/Arizona border to Lake Mathews in Riverside County. The CRA began delivering water in 1941 and was the largest public works project in southern California during the Great Depression! #WaterWiseWednesday
- Facebook, July 15
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July is Smart Irrigation Month! Did you know? Established lawns and landscapes only need an inch of water each week. Install a smart sprinkler controller to avoid overwatering! #MWDOCMonday
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