Amid California’s Climate Concerns, Pasadena Turns Water Conservation into a Community Event

In a state where drought is never far from mind, Pasadena is taking fresh approaches to water conservation, turning educational initiatives into community celebrations.

Pasadena Water and Power is joining utilities nationwide this May to celebrate Water Awareness Month with a series of free educational events, tours, and contests designed to promote water conservation.

The initiative, part of PWP’s “The Ripple Effect” campaign, aims to raise awareness about water sustainability and encourage community members to become local water stewards.

The month-long series of activities kicks off with a “Garden Show and Tell” running from April 28 through June 13, where community members can share photos of their gardens transformed from “thirsty turf to drought-tolerant beauty.” Weekly winners will be featured on PWP’s website and social media channels, with participants receiving a free native plant while supplies last. To participate, customers can visit PWPweb.com/TheRippleEffect and click the “Garden Show and Tell” tile.

PWP staff will host “Pop-In to Win” events at local farmers markets on May 3 from 8 a.m. to Noon at Victory Park Farmers Market (2900 block of North Sierra Madre Blvd) and May 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Villa Parke Farmers Market (363 E Villa Street), where residents can learn about water-saving tools and resources.

A virtual Water Town Hall is scheduled for May 7 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom, offering information about water sources, delivery systems, and sustainability efforts. Visit PWPweb.com/Events for more information.

Residents can also tour the Monk Hill Water Facility on May 10 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. to learn about the history of Monk Hill and its role in Pasadena’s water supply, as well as water treatment, storage, and delivery systems. The address will be provided upon RSVP, which is required through PWPweb.com/Events.

For families with young children, PWP is hosting a water-themed storytime with a Water Treatment Operator at Jefferson Branch Library (1500 E. Villa Street) on May 13 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This event is designed for ages 3 to 5 and their caregivers, featuring stories, songs, crafts, a water distribution demonstration, and a water-wise craft.

K-12 students residing in PWP’s service area can participate in the annual “Being Water Wise Is…” art contest, with submissions due Friday, May 30. The contest, sponsored by PWP and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, encourages students to submit artwork portraying a water-wise theme along with a short message about water conservation. All entries must be submitted with the required forms by May 30 via email to PWPCommunications@CityOfPasadena.net. Complete details are available at PWPweb.com/ArtContest.

Community members can also explore PWP-sponsored demonstration gardens through a self-guided tour showcasing drought-tolerant and native plant landscapes. The tour highlights water-efficient landscaping features such as hügels, berms, swales, dry streams, and rain barrels. A digital map is available online at PWPweb.com/TheRippleEffect.

As a community-owned utility, PWP provides electricity to more than 65,000 customers and delivers water to nearly 38,000 households and businesses in Pasadena and adjacent communities in the San Gabriel Valley. The utility operates as a nonprofit public service owned and operated by the City of Pasadena for the benefit of its customers and the community. Its priorities are reliability, responsiveness to customers, competitive rates, and environmental stewardship.

All Water Awareness Month events are free and open to the public. For more information about Water Awareness Month events, Pasadena’s water supply, infrastructure, and conservation resources and programs, visit PWPweb.com/TheRippleEffect.