The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) recognized StopWaste as one of four inaugural WaterSmart Partners at a ceremony on March 12, 2019. StopWaste previously received WaterSmart designation in 2011 for on-site water-saving practices. The Partnership designation is new for WaterSmart, and EBMUD recognized StopWaste for its long-standing partnership with the utility, and for programs that have contributed to water savings, such as trainings and resources for landscape professionals. For example, EBMUD was an early partner with StopWaste to educate residents about the benefits of sheet mulching to convert their lawns, and now, the utility conducts their own workshops on sheet mulching and Bay-Friendly Gardening practices. Those resources are available on the Lawn-to-Garden website. 

The WaterSmart Business Certification program promotes sustainable water management for businesses by offering free audits, water efficient devices (such as aerators), and incentives that offset equipment upgrade costs. This year, EBMUD and partners helped 33 bay area businesses achieve Water Smart Certification, and combined a total of 180 businesses save 125 million gallons of water every year as a result of the program.

Read more about WaterSmart.