City Of West Hollywood Launches ‘Prescription' For Water Conservation

New Campaign Uses Authoritative Messages to Urge Public to Reduce Water Use and #bethesolution

West Hollywood, California (PRWEB) - Despite recent wintery temperatures and rainstorms in Southern California, the State of California remains in a severe drought. Just over one year ago, on Friday, January 17, 2014, California Governor Jerry Brown declared a drought State of Emergency and called on all Californians to voluntarily reduce water consumption by 20 percent.

Throughout 2014, the City of West Hollywood intensified efforts to use less water and to promote conservation. Now, the City launches a new public-awareness campaign — a “Prescription” for Water Conservation — to remind the community in the City of West Hollywood that it’s the little day-to-day decisions we make that contribute to collectively conserving water.

“The City of West Hollywood has a longstanding history of environmental advocacy,” said Councilmember Abbe Land. “As a City, we are committed to ensuring that we do our part to reduce not only our water usage but also to educate individuals and businesses about how we have to make permanent changes rather than ones only during times of drought.”

The “Prescription” campaign, which is funded by the City of West Hollywood, is comprised of designs or water-use situations stamped with a red text that suggest “doctor’s orders.” The designs catch attention because, at first glance, the messages appear to be public-health messages; in fact each message is aimed at tips to use less water.

There are four distinct designs:
1) Practice Abstinence — “Avoid washing your driveway or sidewalk and save up to 150 gallons.”
2) Seek Help Immediately — “Fix leaky faucets and save up to 140 gallons per week.”
3) Use Protection — “Guard against waste with drain stoppers, shut-off nozzles, and water-efficient showerheads.”
4) Wash Wisely — “Wash only full loads of laundry and dishes and save up to 50 gallons per week.”

Advertising will appear in local print and digital community publications; on outdoor bus shelters and street-light poles; electronic billboards; and in social media. In addition, mailed inserts will bring these water-conservation messages to residential customers throughout the City of West Hollywood.

The threat of a severe water shortage is a serious one in the City of West Hollywood, where daily existence depends largely upon water piped in from sources outside the region. In 2014, the City made adjustments to its irrigation controllers to reduce water consumption by as much as 50 percent.

In late 2014, the City worked with the West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the West Basin Municipal Water District to provide restaurants and bars with table-tent cards reminding patrons that water is scarce and is to be served only upon request; according to West Hollywood Municipal Code, no person is to be served water unless it is requested.

West Hollywood residents and businesses are served by two water utility companies: Beverly Hills Public Works and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP). Both utility companies are urging customers to cut back water usage and to consider installing water-conserving fixtures.

Water conservation tips and information about rebate programs are available at the following websites:

• http://www.bewaterwise.com
• http://www.ladwp.com/waterconservation
• http://www.beverlyhills.org/living/recyclingandconservation/waterconservation
• http://www.westbasin.org

For more information, contact the City of West Hollywood's Department of Public Works at (323) 848-6375.