Montrose Finishes Sixth In National Water
Conservation Challenge

Montrose, CO — Results from the 2019 Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation were released this week with Montrose finishing sixth in the nation with 1,332 local pledges and resulting in potential savings of 5.4 million gallons of water.

During the month of April, Montrose area residents were encouraged to participate in the annual water conservation drive aimed at raising awareness, curbing excessive water use, and reducing the amount of hazardous waste entering watersheds and landfills.

Montrose finished behind fifth-placed Windsor, Colorado, in the 5,000 - 29,999 population category. The communities with the highest percentage of residents participating in the challenge are ranked in the top 10.

In 2018 Montrose finished 21st in the nation during the annual Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. The community of Rexburg, Idaho, finished first in the 5,000 - 29,999 population category this year.

“It’s fantastic that our community turned out to move us from 21 in 2018 to number six this year,” Montrose Mayor Dave Bowman said. “And it's even more fantastic that local residents pledged to save over five million gallons of water here in Montrose.”

Additional results generated by Montrose pledges include a reduction in the amount of hazardous waste entering watersheds (308 pounds) and household waste ending up at the local landfill (144,209 fewer pounds), with a carbon dioxide reduction of 22.7 million pounds.

"Finishing at any level in the top 10 gives you a great base to build upon for your participation in the challenge next year," said Wyland Foundation Project Manager Marci Vahey. "Cities participate year after year, enhance their outreach year after year, build on their success, and some eventually take the number one spot."

Nationwide the challenge resulted in pledges to save 3 billion gallons of water. Additional savings nationwide include the elimination of 179,000 pounds of hazardous waste from entering watersheds; a 12.9 billion pound reduction in carbon dioxide; and 80 million fewer pounds of waste in landfills. Additionally, pledges were made to save 196 million kilowatt hours of electricity, 22.6 million gallons of oil, and $39.9 million in consumer costs.

Other notable Colorado communities ranked this year include Grand Junction who finished eighth in the 30,000 - 99,999 population category, behind sixth-place Castle Rock. The City of Greeley finished fifth in the 100,000 - 299,999 population category and the City of Aurora finished second in the 300,000 - 599,999 population category.

The mission of the Wyland Foundation is to bring people together for clean water and healthy oceans. The National Mayor's Challenge is a non-profit, grant-supported national campaign.

To see a full list of winning cities and find out more about the 2020 challenge, visit www.mywaterpledge.com.

For more city news visit: CityOfMontrose.org.

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