Upper Water September News Splash
All Tap, Always
Upper Water, through the shared commitment of its Directors,staff, and the water communities it serves throughout the San Gabriel Valley, has launched a campaign that celebrates tap water and the work behind delivering clean, convenient, and dependable drinking water.
The campaign was established to build awareness of the tap water available through local water systems and encourage community members to make tap water a simple part of their daily routines. From filling a reusable bottle before heading out for the day to enjoying a glass of water at home, small everyday choices can help reduce reliance on single use plastic bottles while making the most of a resource available right from the tap.
A dedicated All Tap, Always landing page brings the campaign to life with information, resources, and helpful tips, all in one place. Visit upperwater.org/alltap to explore the campaign and learn more about choosing tap, always.
Water Education Opportunities:
Classroom Grant Applications are Open!
The Water Education Grant Program (WEGP), sponsored and administered by Upper Water, provides funding for K–12 classroom or school projects focused on water and STEM-related subjects. These projects are designed to be interdisciplinary, offering valuable educational opportunities across multiple fields. Teachers or administrators may apply individually or as a group to receive up to $1,000 in grant funding.
The purpose of WEGP is to support projects that deepen students’ understanding of water, science, technology, engineering, and math, and highlight the importance of these topics—especially the role of water in the region.
All applications will be reviewed and selected projects will require final documentation. The WEGP applications for the 2026/27 school year are due Friday, October 16, 2026.
To learn more and apply, visit upperwater.org/water-education-grant-program
Grow Your Gardening Skills: Upcoming Water Smart Workshop
Join Upper Water’s Landscaping Workshop this month! Learn how to design a beautiful, climate-resilient landscape that conserves water and works with the natural environment. The workshop will explore the benefits of native plants, how to choose species suited to your local region, and where to find resources and reputable native plant nurseries.
Gardening with Native Plants from the San Gabriel Valley and San Gabriel Mountains
Thursday, September 17 | 6:00 – 7:15 p.m.
Virtual
To learn more and register for our Water Smart Workshops, visit upperwater.org/water-smart-workshops
“Being Water Wise Is…” Student Art Contest
‘25-’26 “Being Water Wise is…” Art Contest Artwork
by 9th Grader Kristen Liang
Learn more at upperwater.org/art
More Water Education Opportunities…
Upper Water is excited to introduce two new water education opportunities for local students and teachers. Launching this school year is a free school assembly program in partnership with the National Theatre for Children. Available to K-5 schools within our service area, these live, interactive assemblies are performed by professional actors and teach students about water conservation, how our water system works, and the importance of protecting local water resources.
We are also expanding our education programs through a new school bus tour program in partnership with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. Available to students in grades 6-12 within our service area, these free tours provide a behind-the-scenes look at solid waste management, wastewater treatment, and career opportunities in the water and environmental services industries. To help make these tour more accessible, schools may receive bus transportation stipends of up to $750 to offset costs.
To learn more about Upper Water’s education programs and available resources, visit upperwater.org/education-programs.
Summer Outreach Recap
About Upper Water
Upper Water’s mission is to provide a reliable, sustainable, diversified, and affordable portfolio of high-quality water supplies to the San Gabriel Valley; including water conservation, recycled water, storm water capture, storage, water transfers and imported water. Upper Water services nearly one million people in its 144 square mile service territory. Governed by a five-member elected board of directors, Upper Water is a member agency of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Annually, more than 78 billion gallons of water is used in Upper Water’s service area. For more information about Upper Water and the water use efficiency programs mentioned, please visit our website www.upperwater.org
