Welcome to this issue of MWDOC’s eCurrents newsletter. Drums are beating in Sacramento once again to put a tax on water, this time with Governor Newsom leading the band. MWDOC is opposed to the water tax and is part of a growing coalition of water providers who are supporting alternative legislation that will address water quality issues throughout the state, without taxing water. Meanwhile, Metropolitan has enhanced rebate incentives for turf removal and MWDOC is already accepting applications starting at $2.00 per square foot. Also, in member agency news, Santa Margarita Water District was selected to incorporate the City of San Juan Capistrano into its service area.
These are just some of the highlights of this exciting issue of eCurrents. 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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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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2019 WATER AWARENESS POSTER CONTEST DEADLINE FOR ENTRIES, APRIL 5!
MWDOC's annual Water Awareness Poster Contest deadline is right around the corner! The Poster Contest is open to all Orange County students in Kindergarten through 12th Grade. All hand-drawn artwork should reflect this year's theme:
Water Is Life
. The theme was selected to get students thinking about our most precious natural resource - water!
MWDOC receives nearly one thousand entries each year from students across the county, and from these entries, 40 winners are selected and recognized at an annual awards ceremony held at the Discovery Cube in Santa Ana.
The deadline to submit entries for the 2019 Water Awareness Poster Contest is April 5.
For contest rules, and to view previous winning artwork, visit:
www.mwdoc.com/postercontest
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2019 WYLAND NATIONAL MAYOR'S CHALLENGE FOR WATER CONSERVATION
Each year during the month of April, cities across the U.S. take part in the Wyland National Mayor's Challenge for Water Conservation. Residents participate on behalf of their city by completing a series of online pledges at
mywaterpledge.com
that encourage positive behavior changes. Cities that collect the most pledges within their population category win the title of nation's most water-wise city. As an added incentive for Orange County cities, MWDOC and the Wyland Foundation partnered to award a professionally designed water-efficient pocket park to one lucky city within MWDOC's service area with the most pledges received by their citizens. The pocket park award serves as a community model for water efficient landscaping, and uses a variety of techniques and strategies that support sustainable water use. For more information, visit:
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GIRL SCOUTS WATER RESOURCES AND CONSERVATION PATCH PROGRAM
MWDOC is proud to partner with Girl Scouts of Orange County to offer the Water Resources and Conservation Patch Program. Girl Scouts of all ages can earn a patch by completing a 2-hour, STEM-based clinic. The Water Resources and Conservation Patch Program educates Girl Scouts about where their water comes from, the importance of Orange County water resources, and how to be water efficient.
There are two remaining patch clinics this spring - April 6 at the Bolsa Chica Conservancy and April 13 at Santa Margarita Water District. Additional opportunities to host a patch clinic will be available soon! To learn more visit,
www.mwdoc.com/GirlScouts.
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FREE QUALIFIED WATER EFFICIENT LANDSCAPER (QWEL) CERTIFICATION
MWDOC, along with participating member agencies, now offers FREE Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper (QWEL) certification classes for Orange County landscape professionals. Classes are open to any city staff, professional landscaper, water district employee, or maintenance personnel. The QWEL certification program provides 20 hours of instruction on water efficient areas of expertise such as local water supply, sustainable landscaping, soil types, irrigation systems and maintenance, as well as irrigation controller scheduling and programing. Contact hours are also offered!
To learn more, or to register for an upcoming certification course, visit:
www.mwdoc.com/QWEL
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REGISTRATION IS OPEN, AND SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR THE 12TH ANNUAL O.C. WATER SUMMIT!
Join nearly 400 business professionals, elected officials, water industry experts, and scholars on May 31st for the 12th Annual O.C. Water Summit,
Water Under the Microscope.
Learn from
world-renowned experts as they present on the many facets of water management and take a closer look at the challenges of competing interests shaping local, state, national, and international water supplies. For more information, visit:
www.ocwatersummit.com.
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MWDOC'S TOP PERFORMING SOCIAL MEDIA POST FROM THE PAST 30 DAYS!
On Facebook Alone:
14,949 People Reached
and 644 Engagements
The Municipal Water District of Orange County and our partners the Wyland Foundation are excited to share our new, evergreen Public Service Announcement starring world-renowned marine life artist Wyland!
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WATER TAX IS BACK DESPITE ALTERNATIVE
By Bryce Roberto
Although falling flat in 2017 and 2018, the drinking water tax lives on with Governor Gavin Newsom's call to create a Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund. Governor Newsom endorsed the water tax in his 2019-2020 budget, despite unified opposition by water agencies across the state. The primary funding for Newsom's fund is a tax, ranging from $1 to $10 per month, on every water customer in the state...
READ MORE
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NOW ACCEPTING ENTRIES FOR THE 2019 "BE THE VOICE THE PLANET" VIDEO CONTEST!
By Sarah Wilson
High school students across the United States are invited to take part in the 2019 "Be the Voice for the Planet" video contest (Voice4thePlanet). Voice4thePlanet encourages students to create 30 to 60 second videos that generate awareness and encourage positive behavioral changes surrounding environmental issues such as water conservation, clean oceans, plastic pollution, and recycling. The deadline to submit entries is April 30, 2019.
READ MORE
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SANTA MARGARITA WATER DISTRICT SELECTED BY SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO AS PREFERRED WATER PROVIDER
By Nicole Stanfield
On February 19, 2019, The San Juan Capistrano City Council voted unanimously to enter exclusive negotiations to transfer the city's water and sewer utility to Santa Margarita Water District (SMWD). After an extended competitive process, SMWD was determined by the City Council to be the best water district to provide local water supply reliability, rate stability, infrastructure improvements and customer service.
READ MORE
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MWDOC PROCESSING TURF REMOVAL INCENTIVES STARTING AT $2 PER SQ. FT.
The Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC) is accepting applications now for the popular turf removal program with rebates starting at $2 per square foot. Depending on where you live, you might be eligible for an additional incentive on top of that from participating member agencies. This comes as Metropolitan Water District doubled the rebate for turf removal and adopted other changes to make it easier to participate in the program.
READ MORE
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FAVORITE TWEETS AND POSTS
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Did you know? Orange County residents have replaced over 22 MILLION square feet of turf with water efficient landscaping. This saves over 1 BILLION gallons of water each year.
#OCisWaterSmart #WaterWiseWednesdays
-Facebook, January 30
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Entries for the 2019 MWDOC Water Awareness Poster Contest are now being accepted for ALL Orange County students K-12th grade! Submit your artwork depicting the theme, “Water is Life,” now through April 5 for a chance to win! #MWDOCMonday || Learn more:
http://bit.ly/MWDOC-PosterContest
-Twitter, February 18
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"If each and every one of us was #WaterWise - if we took the time to think about how were using water, and then made a small pledge to just change simple things - It really adds up!" - Wyland, World Renowned Marine Life Artist Wyland Foundation #WaterIsLife #OCisWaterSmart
-Facebook, February 26
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