Will County Gazette

The Crest Hill City Council asked city residents to take part in a competition, and pledge to conserve water all month, during the board's April 3 meeting.

The month-long competition in April is part of a nationwide event by the Wyland Foundation, in which residents are asked to take a pledge and a short online survey where they can view their city’s progress and invite friends to join. Communities are judged based on the percentage of their residents who take the pledge, allowing them to win prizes based on population-sized categories. Individuals are also eligible for prizes as more than $50,000 was handed out to almost 300 residents nationwide last year.

"This is a great way to get public involvement in water conservation," Mark Siefert, director of public works, said. "So I ask all councilors and all staff and all of our residents who are watching ... to please take the water pledge to conserve water. You've heard us talk about the importance of water and the value of water throughout these last couple of years, and that ... the value of water is just continually going up as we get closer and closer to Lake Michigan."

Siefert urged the public and the council to join the competition, saying the pledge is easy to do online, adding that lots of prizes have been handed out. He said the possible top prize was for a resident to have their water bill paid for an entire year. He stressed the engagement and education residents can gain from the program as well. 

Those who need help signing up for the contest can contact public works department for help, Siefert said.

A trophy is passed out among the mayors of cities that are a part of the Grand Prairie Water Commission for the city that does the best among that regional group, Siefert said. He also said that rain barrels and composting programs will be running again this year, and information will come out at the end of April. 

In other business, the council voted to approve adding Alderwoman Claudia Gazal and Alderman Mark Cipiti to the water conservation committee, a new commitment to the city’s conservation efforts. Both positions are volunteer.