The National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, a national nonprofit campaign presented by the Wyland Foundation, returns for its 15th year. And this time, it’s more personal, powerful and community-driven than ever.
Since its inception, the challenge has engaged over 1,000 mayors and millions of residents nationwide, with communities committing to reduce billions of gallons in water waste. This year, thanks to the new Impact Insight Tool, participants will see exactly how their personal water-saving choices translate into tangible benefits — not just for the environment, but for their own homes, finances and quality of life.
Why it matters
The challenge comes at a critical time. Droughts, infrastructure strain, climate change and rising costs of living are putting pressure on water supplies in every region of the country. Water isn’t just an environmental issue — it’s directly tied to home values, insurance rates, food prices and public health.
“The National Mayor’s Challenge has always been about bringing people together, but this year, we’re showing them exactly how these small actions add up on a deeply personal level,” says Steve Creech, president of the Wyland Foundation. “With the new Impact Insight Tool, we’re connecting the dots between everyday water choices and the real-world impacts they have on the place people call home.”
How it works
Between April 1–30, residents of participating cities can go to mywaterpledge.com and take a short pledge to conserve water and reduce pollution. In return, they’ll be able to:
Track the impact of their pledge. The new Impact Insight Tool provides a localized report showing how individual water-saving actions influence water quality, infrastructure health and even cost of living in their area.
Compete for their city. Cities with the highest percentage of residents taking the pledge can win eco-friendly prizes, including $3,000 toward utility bills, water-saving technology and more.
Strengthen their community. Every pledge adds up to real progress in reducing plastic waste, minimizing pollution runoff and ensuring a reliable supply of fresh water for future generations.
More than a pledge
The challenge unites cities, schools, businesses and nonprofits. Mayors lead the way, but the real power comes from the individuals and families who take part. With the Impact Insight Tool, participants will see how saving just a few gallons of water per day can
• Improve local water quality by reducing runoff pollution from fertilizers, pesticides, and plastics;
• Reduce strain on city water infrastructure, lowering maintenance costs and helping prevent rising utility rates;
• Support local economies by preserving clean water sources essential to tourism, recreation and agriculture.; and
• Protect wildlife and biodiversity in nearby rivers, lakes and wetlands.
The campaign goes a step further by rewarding people for taking action. Participants will be entered to win eco-friendly prizes from The Toro Company, ZENNI Optical. One city in five population categories will take home the title of “Most Water-Wise in the Nation.”
The National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation is supported by CBS Los Angeles, the U.S. EPA, The Toro Company, and the National League of Cities. Any person of any age from any U.S. city can take the pledge between April 1-30 at mywaterpledge.com.
