Wally’s Water Wisdom – Happy Water Quality Month 2024

Hi friends! Wally here. I cannot believe it has been nearly two years since we last spoke about Water Quality Month. The time really does fly, doesn’t it? As we know, August is Water Quality Month, so what better time than now to reflect on the importance of a safe, clean water supply in our lives and for the overall health of our ecosystems. At IEUA, the staff is passionate about our water supply, including water-use efficiency and improving the quality of our invaluable water resources. This month, we are highlighting the crucial role water quality testing plays in maintaining healthy habitats for wildlife, supporting agriculture, and ensuring safe water for our communities.

Water is a finite resource, and its quality can be influenced by daily activities. From fats, oils, and greases (FOG) down a kitchen drain to the use of pesticides in your garden, everything you do can impact the water cycle!

Speaking about FOG, did you know that my scientist friends at IEUA’s award-winning Water Quality Laboratory analyze FOG as well? If you have not seen the video on social media yet, you should check it out by clicking on the image below.

Science is so a-m-a-z-i-n-g!

 

Actually, all of my friends at IEUA work to mitigate water quality effects through educational programs and hands-on conservation efforts. The Agency’s facilities, including the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park, serve as a real-life testing ground! How cool is that? At our Park, visitors can learn about the natural process of water filtration, the importance of wetlands in water purification, and the steps we can all take to protect this precious limited resource.

Maintaining clean waterways is an achievable goal if everyone can collectively implement small changes to their daily lives. When you work together, seemingly small things lead to big transformations over time. Intentional choices such as not littering, picking up pet waste, using fertilizers and pesticides in recommended amounts, and disposing of FOG in the trash instead of down the drain can make a huge difference!

During Water Quality Month, I encourage everyone to visit my pal Owlie at the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park to learn more about how you can contribute to water conservation and quality. Join in on IEUA’s mission to protect the region’s water supply and, by extension, our planet. 😊 Together, we can ensure that future generations have access to the clean, safe water they deserve!

That is all I have for today, friends. I will see you all soon with my next drop of water wisdom!

 

Your Friend,

Wally

FREE Funding Opportunity- Deadline is Friday, November 4th!

Water Education Water Awareness Committee (WEWAC) announces it's 2016-2017 EduBucks Program for up to $600. The grant is fairly simple to fill out and would be beneficial to any creative water-related activities you might be doing in your classroom.

To fill out an application visit http://www.usewaterwisely.com/. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 4th!

Scheduling for Water Discovery Field Trips for School Year 2016-2017 is Now Open and Easier Than Ever!

School is back in session and it's time to start planning the year ahead!  Scheduling for Water Discovery Field Trips for school year 2016-2017 is now open and easier than ever!

IEUA is pleased to offer FREE Water Discovery Field Trips to the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park in the city of Chino.  The Water Discovery Field Trip focuses on water conservation, wetlands, habitats, and watershed issues.

Program activities can be tailored to grade levels and aligns with California Curriculum Standards; Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), helping teachers meet their education classroom standards through an exciting hands-on outdoor field trip.

Limited funding for busing, no problem!  IEUA offers a busing mini-grant, which allows for schools and organizations within the state of California to apply for transportation funding to and from the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park to take part in the Water Discovery Field Trip program.  Each school can qualify for $500 -$1000.

To schedule a Water Discovery Field Trip, visit our new easy to use online request form at https://www.ieua.org/facilities/chino-creek-wetlands-educational-park/water-discovery-program/ and click "Schedule a Field Trip" to complete field trip request form.  

For more information on activities, curriculum alignment, scheduling calendar, and busing grant application, visit https://www.ieua.org/facilities/chino-creek-wetlands-educational-park/water-discovery-program/.


If you have any questions, please contact Katie Cabana, External Affairs Specialist I at (909) 993-1925 or Kcabana@ieua.org.

Eagle Canyon Garden Hosts Garden Dedication

Eagle Canyon Elementary Hosts a Garden Dedication! 

On Friday, April 22^nd, in coordination with Earth day, Chino Valley Unified School District's Eagle Canyon Elementary School hosted a garden dedication to celebrate the completion of their water-wise school garden.  

Each year, schools are able to submit a garden grant application, which provides their school with a $4,500 grant to go towards the installation of a water-wise garden. Last year, Eagle Canyon submitted an application and after reviewing their grant application and garden design, they were chosen to receive this water-wise garden grant that educates students and the community on the importance of efficient water use.

Along with a serpentine to the garden, ribbon cutting, butterfly and lady bug release, students from each grade level did a presentation at the garden dedication. 

Mrs. McGuire's first grade class singing the Vegetable Song.

Mrs. Corsaro's kindergarten class reciting the Earthworm Poem 

and released earthworms into the garden. 

Eagle Canyon Elementary's garden features six planter boxes designated to each grade level growing varieties of vegetables such as pumpkins and radishes. Citrus trees and California Native plants were planted around the perimeter of the garden. 

Mr. Sergio Robleto, a teacher at Ayala High School painted the beautiful mural pictured above. Students submitted their ideas for the mural and Mr. Robleto stenciled the design for students to get involved by doing a paint by numbers. 

On behalf of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency Board of Directors and the city of Chino Hills, Congratulations to Eagle Canyon Elementary for a job well done and for bringing an inspiring outdoor classroom to life! Happy gardening! 

Where's Wally?

Wally's visit to the Pipe Garden!

During Wally’s weekly walk through IEUA's Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park, he stumbled across the Pipe Garden.  The Pipe Garden demonstrates how to use water wisely inside and outside the home.  The various signs share how much water you can save by following some water-saving tips, which can come in handy during this drought.

For example, Wally learned that you can save 22.5 gallons if you take a five minute shower with a low-flow showerhead, versus taking a five minute shower without a low-flow showerhead.  Also, you can save 10.3 gallons of water if you run a fully loaded dishwasher instead of hand washing the dishes.  With this knowledge in mind, Wally can do his part to save water during this historic drought.

Learn more about the Pipe Garden and the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park at: 

www.ieua.org

*The Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park is partially funded by a grant from the State Water Resources Control Board. 

Cypress Elementary Hosts a Garden Dedication!

Cypress Elementary Hosts a Garden Dedication!

This past Thursday, February 25^th, Fontana Unified School District’s Cypress Elementary School hosted a garden dedication to celebrate the completion of their water-wise school garden.



Cypress Elementary Assistant Principal Mr. Adam Anderson speaks in front of students and parents.

The garden was constructed as part of IEUA’s water-wise Garden In Every School® Program, which is an assisted grant to install a water-wise garden on campus that educates students on the importance of efficient water usage.

On behalf of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency Board of Directors and the Fontana Water Company, Katie Plank and Patrick Soto, presented Principal Dr. Rosario Gomez and Assistant Principal Mr. Adam Anderson a certificate of completion at the dedication ceremony.

From Left to right: Patrick Soto (Fontana Water Company), Katie Plank (IEUA), Principal Dr. Rosario Gomez, and Assistant Principal Mr. Adam Anderson.

The Cypress Elementary garden features six planter boxes growing plants such as parsley and succulents. The planter box for the 2^nd graders even features a turtle!

 

Congratulations to Cypress Elementary for a job well done and for bringing and an outdoor classroom to life!

We hope your garden will continue to flourish and inspire water use efficiency!

FREE K-12 Project WET Teacher Workshop

Don't forget to RSVP by Thursday, October 22nd

 

IEUA's 2015 "Water is Life" poster contest

IEUA is sponsoring the 2015 “Water is Life” poster contest.  

Deadlines to receive all “Water is Life” student entries will be Thursday, February 26, 2015 by 5 p.m.   

FREE Earth Day Event for students

IEUA will be hosting our Annual Earth Day on Wednesday, April 15, 2015.  Earth Day is a fun filled day of scheduled educational activities for students to have a chance to get outside the classroom and experience the Chino Creek Wetlands and Educational Park while learning.  Earth Day activities are best for students in grades 2^nd-5^th. 

If you would like to schedule classes to take part in the event, please contact Andrea Carruthers at 909.993.1935 or acarruthers@ieua.org.

 

FREE Funding Opportunity- Deadline is Friday, November 14th!

Water Education Water Awareness Committee (WEWAC) announces it's 2014-2015 Edu Grant Program for up to $750. The grant is fairly simple to fill out and would be beneficial to any water-related activities you might be doing in your classroom.

To fill out an application visit http://www.usewaterwisely.com/. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 14th!