California, despite its many lush landscapes, is a desert state with over 38% of its total land designated as desert. This vast amount of desert, in conjunction with huge populations, means water is an incredibly important resource. This is where organizations like the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) can have a positive impact on the community. BAWSCA has championed conservation education programs with the GetWise team since 2008—over 16 years! Our education programs are a single yet significant piece to their conservation puzzle.
BAWSCA provides important services to Northern California’s Bay Area and surrounding communities, such as regional water supply planning, resource development, and conservation programs. Its service territory includes 26 cities, water districts, and private utilities within San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Alameda counties. With this large footprint, BAWSCA serves over 1.8 million residents and over 40,000 commercial, industrial, and institutional entities. The network utilizes over 176 million gallons of water per day, or approximately 55 gallons of water usage per capita per day!
Just as important as their daily services, the conservation programs BAWSCA puts forth are integral to fostering a culture of efficiency and environmental stewardship, which in turn protects our precious natural resources. BAWSCA offers its communities three GetWise programs:
BAWSCA sees the GetWise educational programs as unique opportunities to connect with the communities they serve. Our programs reach students in the classroom and instill the importance of preserving energy and water, then empower the students to bring these lessons home to implement in everyday life. We have found our classroom-to-home learning experience bridges the gap between learning and action while instilling lifelong lessons. Parents and guardians get to see their child in action firsthand and often become savers themselves! For example, the Outdoor WaterWise program promotes the use of native gardens. A well-designed garden can use up to 85% less water than a traditional garden while providing essential ecological benefits. GetWise truly provides a unique opportunity for students to be leaders in their homes and the community. Want to learn how GetWise can help your community? Check out our Teacher FAQ page!