Redmond Joins Water Conservation Challenge

Redmond Mayor Ed Fitch announced on March 25 that the city will participate in the National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. In an attempt to conserve water and manage natural resources more efficiently, residents are invited to contribute to city conservation goals from April 1 to 30 by competing to win eco-friendly prizes while receiving financial support toward utility bills, along with other incentives, according to a press release.

Residents can participate by visiting the challenge website and making a series of online pledges to conserve water, reduce pollution and save energy. People can also see how their pledge addresses local water issues, reduces utility costs and enhances community health.

The conservation challenge started over a decade ago and was created by a group of mayors looking for innovative ways to engage communities in addressing water challenges.

Every year, residents from more than 2,000 cities in the U.S. pledge to reduce freshwater consumption, cut waste sent to landfills and prevent hazardous waste from entering local watersheds, according to a press release.

“Decreasing water availability is a reality that requires us all to rethink our stewardship of this natural resource. Last summer the city crews shortened water schedules in parks, fixed leaks and updated sprinkler heads, successfully reducing water use by 12% (7,273,862 gallons) from the prior year,” Fitch said in a press release.

“I encourage residents to take the pledge, no matter how small, and learn first-hand the impact they can have when we work together.”

For several years, the City of Redmond has been attempting to reduce its water usage through a range of initiatives. In late July, the City announced it reached a significant milestone in its efforts, reporting a more than 30% reduction in water usage across its parks and municipal facilities in the months of June and July.

The achievement, which equates to saving nearly 8 million gallons of water compared to usage in June and July 2023, was made through a series of initiatives including the installation of smart irrigation systems to ensure optimal water usage. The City’s main focus last year was reducing water use in city parks.

Other efforts included routine audits and maintenance, identifying and addressing leaks or inefficiencies to reduce water waste.

The City’s efforts come at a crucial time, with fears around water availability looming as Redmond’s population rapidly grows. At the end of June, Mayor Ed Fitch told the Source Weekly that the City will eventually need more water, in terms of volume, due to growth in the community.

To further reduce water usage, the City of Redmond has focused a lot of its efforts on public awareness, launching several educational campaigns to promote water conservation among residents and businesses. In 2024, the City encouraged residents to decrease outdoor watering use by 10%. On average, the community uses 2.6 million gallons of water daily during non-irrigation months and 14 million gallons of water daily during warm weather months.

This article appears in The Source Weekly March 27, 2025.