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.
PARTNER
OF THE WEEK
Southwest Boulder & Stone
 Southwest Boulder & Stone supports the 20-Gallon Challenge through being an active water conservation participant in North County. The company supports local organizations in Fallbrook and hosts many conservation workshops. Southwest Boulder & Stone has also hosted a workshops addressing Southern California's concerns over water usage. Southwest Boulder & Stone also sells water conserving rocks, boulders, and ground cover to help the homeowner and contractor create water friendly landscapes. For more information on Southwest Boulder & Stone, click here.
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The Arc of San Diego
 The Arc of San Diego supports the 20-Gallon Challenge by replacing all of its facilities' urinals with waterless urinals through the Water Authority's commercial voucher incentive program. Each waterless urinal saves approximately 40,000 gallons annually. By installing 21 waterless urinals, The Arc of San Diego will save an estimated 840,000 gallons of water each year.
The Arc of San Diego was selected as one of the Water Authority's Super Water Savers.
The Arc of San Diego is a private, nonprofit organization that provides services for people with disabilities and their families.
Click here for more information on The Arc of San Diego.
Click here for rebates and incentives offered through the Water Authority's conservation programs.
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.
American Assets Real Estate Group
 American Assets Real Estate Group supports the 20-Gallon Challenge by taking action to conserve water in the community. Within the last  year it changed its Solana Beach Corporate Centre irrigation system at Carmel Mountain Plaza to recycled water. It also changed its outdoor landscape to use low water-use plants and mulch throughout. More conservation savings are on the way as other retail properties apply water conservation measures.
American Assets Real Estate Group was also selected as the Super Water Saver for September 2009. Click here for more information on American Assets Real Estate Group or click on the box to the right to see its Super Water Saver video.
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.
Cox Communications
 Cox Communications supported 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 promoted the 20-Gallon Challenge to its employees and customers via its website, newsletter, and billing statements.
In addition, Cox partnered 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 worked 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.
San Diego Botanic Garden
 San Diego Botanic Garden, formerly Quail Botanical Gardens, supports the 20-Gallon Challenge through its use of recycled water. Scenic trails at the Garden allow visitors glimpses of many different horticultural habitats, many of which are irrigated with recycled water. The Garden has used recycled water for four years and was the first botanical garden in California to use recycled water. The Garden was recognized by the WaterReuse Association as the Recycled Water Irrigation Customer of the Year for 2007. Currently, the Garden 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.
San Diego Botanic Garden 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 Garden is posting the 20-Gallon Challenge information on its website and in its newsletter. The Garden also produced four educational gardening videos including two water conservation landscape videos with the San Diego County Water Authority.
Classes on water conservation-related subjects are offered throughout the year. Monthly volunteer tours highlight low water plants and gardens. The Garden also educates children about water conservation and drought-tolerant plants through its recent opening of the Hamilton Children's Garden.
For more information on San Diego Botanic Garden, click here.
A. McKibbin & Co. Community Association Management
 A. McKibbin & Company supports the 20-Gallon Challenge by reducing its landscape water usage by 52 percent. The Olivenhain Municipal Water District provided A. McKibbin & Co. a detailed water usage report for Arroyo Vista/Tiburon at no-cost. The report included information on their current irrigation system and recommendations and/or the upgrades needed to decrease water usage. After reviewing the report, Community Association Manager Adrian McKibbin worked with his landscaper and replaced components that were faulty or not working to their maximum efficiency. A. McKibbin & Co. was also selected as the Super Water Saver for August. Click here for more information on Arroyo Vista/Tiburon.
STAND FOR LESS
 STAND FOR LESS is promoting water conservation through its local media campaign, as well as through its website and a strong grassroots effort. September is recognized as STAND FOR LESS month. Take a stand by pledging here.
STAND FOR LESS is a statewide campaign effort that aims to reduce greenhouse gas-inducing habits in four key areas: water, electricity, transportation, and recycling. The Water Authority is a proud partner in the Stand for Less campaign. The campaign launched in San Diego at the beginning of April with a press conference and one-day seminars focused on water conservation and recycling open to the public.
STAND FOR LESS is an effort to achieve the goals of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. Statewide partners include the State Department of Conservation, Energy Commission, Air Resources Board, Public Utility Commission, and the Department of Water Resources. Local partners include SANDAG, San Diego Gas & Electric, city of San Diego, San Diego County Water Authority, California Center for Sustainable Energy, Cox Communications, and the San Diego Foundation.
Visit www.standforless.com to find out how to Stand for Less.
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.
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.
The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park
 The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park support water conservation through a variety of programs, some are visible to guests and some are behind the scenes. Both the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park have used water smart landscaping techniques, using a variety of native and water-tolerant plants on their expansive grounds. The zoo has also installed 35 waterless urinals that save approximately 1 million gallons of water per year. Another 20 units are scheduled for installation.
 Also, both parks have streamlined their cleaning and sewage processes to conserve water. Several ponds have been converted to a naturalized system of bio-filters and rapid-sand filters. The Wild Animal Park also operates a wastewater treatment plant onsite. Last year, the plant produced more than 22 million gallons of recycled water used for landscape irrigation The Zoo recently installed Variable Frequency Drives on several of their filtrations systems that has saved approximately 15% of overall power usage and saves approximately 45,000 gallons of water per week. Several process improvements in the Tiger River Trail area are also showing water savings of approximately 5,000 gallons per week. The new elephant project is being designed to be as water-efficient as possible. The enclosure will use high-efficiency bead filtration that will save 15,000 gallons of water per day over other means of water filtration. The new ozone generation technology at the elephant enclosure does not require water-cooling, and will result in daily water savings of 4,000 gallons. To see the water saving techniques firsthand, and of course, the animals enjoying them, visit the San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park.
The San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal park are sponsors of our School Pledge Promotion. Click here to find out more!
 Del Sur
Nationally recognized for its comprehensive sustainable design, construction, and living practices, Del Sur, a smart growth master-planned community located in the northern part of the city of San Diego, was honored by an organization of California water leaders for its exemplary water conservation efforts.
Specific Del Sur water-saving programs spotlighted by the award and expected to save more than 100 million gallons of water each year, once the 2,500-home community is built out, include drought-tolerant landscaping, on-demand hot water recirculation systems, water-saving weather-based irrigation control systems, ultra-low-flush toilets, low-flow shower heads and faucets, and community-wide recycled water irrigation of all common landscaped areas.
Del Sur is the first and only private development to win a water efficiency award from the Public Officials for Water and Environmental Reform (POWER) during its 18-year history. For more information click here.
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.
San Diego City College
 San Diego City College is doing its part to save water. Aside from incorporating water-saving measures at its facilities, the college also hosted a Water Awareness Campaign in November to encourage students and faculty to be aware of the water they use and to eliminate water waste. Water was woven into curriculum and several events were planned to help promote water conservation. The college is also promoting the 20-Gallon Challenge through its website.
The college has also established an urban garden on campus that promotes sustainable living and conservation practices. Visit seedsatcity.com to see the college's urban garden.
For San Diego City College's website, click here.
UCSD - AQUAholics Anonymous
 UC San Diego student organization AQUAholics Anonymous is challenging students, staff, and faculty to conserve water on and off campus. The organization has also declared November as Water Awareness Month at UCSD. The group is screening several water-related films including “Running Dry” and “Flow,” and is hosting panels with water and sustainability experts after each film. The AQUAholics are also working with other organizations to present opportunities such as monitoring water at La Jolla Shores or volunteering at the Tijuana Estuary.
As part of Water Awareness Month, students living in UCSD’s Warren College are participating in a water conservation competition. Daily results can be viewed here.
The AQUAholics are encouraging students to pledge to save water and support a stronger campus water policy here, and are also encouraging others to take the 20-Gallon Challenge pledge through posting the link on their website.
For the AQUAholics website, click here
Life Technologies
 Life Technologies, a large biotech firm that employs more than 1,000 workers in Carlsbad, has made a number of water use changes recently in response to requests from regional water agencies to reduce water use and to help ensure a reliable water supply for the region. Life Technologies completed a water-energy audit as part of a San Diego County Water Authority-San Diego Gas & Electric pilot program. Based on the audit, the company: 1) Installed a retrofit kit to feed cooling water into its autoclaves only when needed, rather than on a continuous basis. This saves approximately 60,000 gallons of water per week; 2) Installed an EnviroTower for the company’s existing cooling towers, which will save approximately 3-million gallons of water per year. The company also plans to use recycled water in its cooling towers to save an additional 3-million gallons of water per year, and; 3) Is in the process of re-piping its clean steam generator water to improve the efficiency of the generators, resulting in additional water savings.
In addition, Life Technologies is now using recycled water on its landscape at the Carlsbad facility. The estimated potable water savings is 700,000 gallons of water a month. The company also is in the process of obtaining rotary nozzles for the landscape, as well as soil sensors to adjust watering schedules based on soil moisture levels. Both of these changes will also reduce water use. For more information on Life Technologies, click here.
Hines
 Hines’ newest office building, the La Jolla Commons Office Tower, is considered a “green” building with a silver pre-certification in the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Core and Shell program. Hines supports the 20-Gallon Challenge by incorporating reclaimed water for irrigation and water-efficient cooling towers and restrooms.
Hines is a privately owned, international real estate firm. For more information on Hines, click here.
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 rebate of up to $100 for 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, please visit www.socalwatersmart.com, or call 888-376-3314.
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.
LEGOLAND® California
 LEGOLAND California supports the 20-Gallon Challenge through the use of water recycling. Reclaimed water is used for all of its irrigation and plants. LEGOLAND also uses a centralized irrigation control system or an on-site weather station that captures data such as humidity, wind speed, and high temperature into the irrigation controller and factors how much water is used by the plants each day. The system adjusts irrigation run times and controls the amount of water used. LEGOLAND installed motion sensor toilets in all of their bathroom facilities to avoid over-flushing of toilets.
In addition, any of the recycled vegetation from the LEGOLAND grounds is used to make mulch and compost for landscaping the entire 128-acre family theme park. The use of mulch helps to conserve water and avoid runoff. LEGOLAND also uses diversion gates so water drainage is diverted from storm drains protecting the oceans and bays.
As a community partner, LEGOLAND is participating in our School Pledge Contest. During the months of September, October, and November 2009, students are asked to fill out the water-saving pledge, with their parents' help, at 20gallonchallenge.com. The student's name will be entered in a monthly drawing to win four tickets to LEGOLAND® California. Click here for more details.
Legoland is also offering 20% off one-day admission to LEGOLAND California to anyone who takes the pledge. Click here to take the pledge. Valid up to 6. Valid only on the day of purchase at LEGOLAND. Offer cannot be applied to pre-purchased or online ticket sales, or combined with any other discounts or offers. Children 2 and under are admitted free. Additional restrictions may apply. Not for resale. Expires 12/31/09.
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 was also recognized as a 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.
H.G. Fenton
 H.G. Fenton Company is committed to managing its office, industrial, and apartment communities responsibly with a focus on conserving valuable resources and controlling expenses for its tenants.
H.G. Fenton was recently recognized as one of two companies, by the Water Authority, for its outstanding efforts to conserve water. The company received the "Outstanding WaterSmart Project" award for its Aquatera Apartment Community, located in Mission Valley.
At Aquatera, a brand new 254-unit apartment community, H.G. Fenton Company is providing San Diegans who want to rent with an exciting option to live in a setting that combines destination resort amenities with environmentally responsible development. The community features numerous energy-saving and eco-friendly features designed to conserve resources and help control utility costs for residents.
Careful attention has been paid to conserving water at Aquatera. Landscaping has been artfully designed with drought tolerant species and indigenous plant material that requires no irrigation whatsoever once it is established. An underground well provides irrigation to the project’s numerous water features. Synthetic turf is used in lieu of grass and a smart irrigation system that includes on-site weather stations to control water frequency and times has also been installed. The community's landscaping complies with strict design specifications that reduce outdoor water use by 50 percent compared to conventional practices. Also, each apartment unit has high efficiency toilets and washing machines.
In addition, beginning in Fall 2008, the company installed smart controllers and eliminated automatic water timers at all of its office and industrial properties which combined total over 3 million square feet of space and many acres of landscaping. The result will be more water efficiency to prevent wasteful runoff of this limited resource as well as reduced water costs for businesses at these locations.
For more information on H.G. Fenton Company, visit the website at www.hgfenton.com
Water2Save
 Water2Save, an engineering firm based in Solana Beach, was recognized as one of two companies, by the Water Authority, for its outstanding water conservation efforts. Water2Save received the "Innovative WaterSmart Service" award at the Water Conservation Summit in June.
The firm provides irrigation management services that help property owners and landscape contractors achieve landscape water savings using a patented wireless technology. Outdoor water use is remotely monitored and watering schedules are adjusted based on site characteristics, weather forecasts, and other information. The high-tech tool is enabling Water2Save to deliver guaranteed water savings of at least 20 percent to its clients.
The "WaterSmart" award is part of the Water Authority's WaterSmart branding effort designed to help foster long-term reductions in water use by growing public desire and demand for beautiful landscapes that require less water.
For more information on Water2Save, click here.
Irrigation Association - Smart Irrigation Month
 Many homeowners tend to overwater their lawn or waste water through inefficient habits.
To help residents and businesses change these inefficient habits, the Irrigation Association is providing tips on smart practices and new technologies available for irrigating your yard or commercial landscape. To emphasize these practices during the summer months, the association named July as Smart Irrigation Month.
Automatic sprinklers offer convenience and control in protecting your landscape investment. Irrigation systems help you to enjoy your yard, and keep it healthy and beautiful. Water-wise habits will result in a healthier lawn and landscape, and help you to save water and sustain the region's quality of life.
About 60 percent of all urban water use in San Diego County is for landscape irrigation.
Click here to learn what you can do in July and throughout the rest of the year to operate your system at peak efficiency.
Click here for fun activities for children during Smart Irrigation Month.
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.
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.
UC San Diego Green Campus Program
 The UC San Diego Green Campus program works to integrate sustainability into course curricula, build general campus awareness about environmental issues, and implement projects targeting energy use, student involvement and operational changes. Green Campus interns also promote facility energy efficiency, green building practices, and water conservation on campus and in the community by increasing awareness about energy and other sustainability related issues.
Green Campus is currently facilitating a conservation challenge involving approximately 500 freshman residents on the UCSD campus. For a two-week period, students are encouraged to cut back on their indoor water use through small changes such as turning water off while brushing their teeth and taking shorter showers. Their usage is being compared to baseline figures from earlier in the school year. The students have been divided into four teams and one team has already cut back their water use by 12 percent, a week into the challenge. Green Campus hosts a number of these water and energy conservation competitions during the academic year as both an educational effort and an opportunity to save water, energy, and money.
The Green Campus Program is funded and supported by the Alliance to Save Energy and UCSD Facilities Management.
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.
 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 is hosting a exhibition titled, “Water: A California Story,” about local and California water issues. Museum officials want exhibition 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 posting the 20-Gallon Challenge logo and link 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, 2009.
For directions, hours, and to learn more about “Water: A California Story,” 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 message through distribution of tip cards with home deliveries and at booth sales of Girl Scout cookies. Beginning on March 13, within a three week period, 400,000 will have been distributed with 2 million boxes of cookies. The card asks Girl Scout Cookie customers to "Please take a few moments to implement one or more water saving tips. The amount of water saved could have a huge impact on our region!" Click here for a sample of the card.
In 2008, the council also conducted a fall pledge drive, urging Girl Scouts and their families to visit 20gallonchallenge.com and pledge to save 20 gallons of water or more per person, per day through the end of the year. The council also has published 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.
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.
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 last summer. Approximately 50 homeowners, board members, landscape professionals, property managers, irrigation consultants and contractors, and suppliers of irrigation equipment participated in the workshop.
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.
Grangetto's Farm & Garden Supply
 Grangetto's Farm & Garden Supply supports the 20-Gallon Challenge through promoting water conservation rebates and messages on its website and in its newsletter. Grangetto’s also promotes and sells water-saving products including rotating nozzles and irrigation controllers, at its four locations in Encinitas, Escondido, Fallbrook, and Valley Center. Grangetto's has been serving San Diego's North County growers, homeowners, and landscapers since 1952. Please visit www.grangettos.com for more information.
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.
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.
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 2008, 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.
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.
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.
Saturn San Diego
 Saturn San Diego supports the 20-Gallon Challenge by sponsoring Channel 4's - "We Stand 4" Water Conservation public awareness campaign. Saturn San Diego is making it possible for Channel 4 to air the San Diego County Water Authority's 20-Gallon Challenge and Water Conservation Garden's television spots 75 times a month. As sponsors of this public awareness campaign, Saturn Dealers of San Diego helps to inform San Diego County residents to conserve water and encourages them to visit the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College.
Saturn also is the only auto manufacturing plant in the world to receive gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Throughout the plant, systems were designed to boost energy efficiency and conservation while reducing CO2 emissions. The plant uses 45 percent less water.
For more information on Saturn Dealers of San Diego, click here.
Metropolitan
Transit System
 The
Metropolitan Transit System supports the 20-Gallon Challenge
by promoting the water conservation campaign on more than
60,000 October 2008 Monthly Regional Transit Passes. MTS also
included information on water-saving rebates in 25,000 Summer
Balboa Park Coupon. Book available on Route 7 to the Park.
The San Diego
Union-Tribune
 The
San Diego Union-Tribune supports the 20-Gallon Challenge
through its distribution of recyclable delivery bags. Printed
on the bag will be the 20-Gallon Challenge water conservation
tips and rebates message to the Union-Tribune’s more than
285,000 subscribers throughout San Diego County. The 20-Gallon
Challenge message will run for three months on the bags starting
in late September.
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.
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.
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.
| If your company or organization is taking aggressive actions to reduce water use and promoting the need for increased water conservation, and would like to be recognized as a Community Partner, please contact Teresa Penunuri at tpenunuri@sdcwa.org or at (858) 522-6708. |
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.
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