GrokSurf's San Diego

[San Diego Public Utilities Department News Release]

SAN DIEGO – The American Water Works Association (AWWA) today has named the City of San Diego’s “No Time to Waste, No Water to Waste” water conservation public outreach campaign winner of the 2009 Public Communications Achievement Award at its 2010 annual conference in Chicago.

The campaign was created by a team consisting of Mayor Jerry Sanders’ Office, the City’s Public Utilities Department and a consultant, Collaborative Services, to address San Diego’s ongoing Level 2 drought alert, which requires mandatory water-use restrictions. The campaign is featured extensively on bus and trolley wraps, billboards, banners, signage, the City’s website and television and radio public service announcements featuring the Mayor’s call to action for residents to conserve water.

“The ‘No Time to Waste, No Water to Waste’ message has become an important part of achieving our water conservation goal and we‘re very pleased that this international association believes our campaign is as successful as we do,” said Mayor Jerry Sanders. “San Diegans are continuing to do their part by conserving water and we’re continuing the campaign to keep the momentum strong.”

The Public Communication Achievement Award is presented to organizations or individuals who foster and support the development of public outreach programs and integrate public affairs as a core element of utility planning and management. San Diego and Metro Vancouver, British Columbia were both chosen for this award.

Founded in 1881, the American Water Works Association is an international nonprofit scientific and educational society dedicated to the improvement of drinking water quality and supply. The AWWA is the authoritative resource on safe drinking water and currently boasts more than 60,000 members worldwide. The purpose of the organization is to facilitate the exchange of information pertaining to water resource development, water and wastewater treatment technology, water storage and distribution, and utility management and operations. The AWWA provides knowledge, information and advocacy to improve the quality and supply of water in North America and beyond and advances public health, safety and welfare by uniting the efforts of the full spectrum of the water community.