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Gary joins nationwide challenge to be most “Water Wise”

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson joins Mayors across the country asking residents to make a commitment to conserve water and cut pollution by taking part in a National contest aimed at drastically slashing water and energy use across the nation. In return residents can win a new Toyota Prius, water saving fixtures, and hundreds of other prizes.

The 5th Annual Wyland Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, April 1-30, 2016 is a non-profit national community service campaign to see which leaders can best inspire their residents to make a series of informative and easy-to-do online pledges to reduce water and energy usage.

Water conservation is the smart use of our water resources and behavior changes in daily water consumption around the house. To ensure a supply of water resources for future generations, we must advocate for water conservation and protection.

Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson encourages Gary residents to take part in the challenge to conserve water, save energy, and to reduce pollution by making an online pledge throughout the month of April. Freeman-Wilson says, “Residents can make simple changes in how water is used at home, school, workplace or in the community. Join me in taking the water conservation pledge.” To participate, residents may enter the contest at www.mywaterpledge.com, and make a series of online pledges to conserve water on behalf of Gary.

The City of Gary will host activities like a Household Hazardous Waste Collection Day and Green Gary Day (Earth Day) activities to promote environmental education and outreach. For more information contact the Department of Green Urbanism/Environmental Affairs at 219-882-3000. Brenda Scott-Henry is Director/MS4 Coordinator.

About the Challenge

Cities compete in the following population categories: (000 – 29,-999 residents, 30,000-99,999 residents, 100,000-299,999 residents, 300,000-599,999 residents, and 600,000 + residents). Cities with the highest percentage of residents who take the challenge in their population category are entered into drawings for hundreds of eco-friendly prizes, including home improvement gift cards, home irrigation equipment, and a Grand Prize Toyota Prius. The challenge also features additional resources for residents to take their commitment of conservation even further, from regional water and energy resource issues to cost-saving tips at home.

The National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation is presented by the Wyland Foundation and Toyota, with support from the U.S EPA WaterSense, The Toro Company, National League of Cities, Conserva Irrigation, and Earth Friendly Products (makers of ECOS).

Last year, residents from over 3,900 cities in all 50 U.S. states pledged to reduce their annual consumption of freshwater by 1.5 billion gallons, reduce waste sent to landfills by 47 million pounds, and prevent more than 141,000 pounds of hazardous waste from entering our watersheds.

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