Upper Water News Splash for August
Upper Water offers resources each year to teach students the importance of water conservation, both indoors and outdoors. All grade levels can learn about the water cycle, water supply, and distribution systems—topics essential for understanding water’s role in California and the San Gabriel Valley. These resources include engaging activities and creative materials designed to spark your students’ interest in water conservation.
Resources are just a click away! To access the free Teacher/Parent Toolkit and inspire your students to save water, visit: upperwater.org/teacher-parent-tool-kit.
Additionally, Upper Water sponsors contests (such as the Water Wise Art Contest), grants (like the Water Education Grant Program-WEGP), and exciting partnerships (including one with the Discovery Science Center) that offer opportunities for field trips and classroom projects—all designed to engage students and promote water conservation. Simply visit upperwater.org/education-programs and stay tuned for application openings.
WEGP 2025 — Students experimenting with a DIY Mini Water Filtration and Desalination Plant Kit.
Residential Water Conservation Programs
FREE Plant Vouchers🌱 & Water Smart Home Kits📦
Upper Water continues its commitment to water conservation and sustainable living with two popular programs still available to residents!
The Residential Plant Voucher Program offers qualifying residents a voucher redeemable for up to $250 worth of approved, climate-appropriate plants. This innovative program helps transform traditional yards into thriving, water-efficient landscapes. It pairs well with the Metropolitan’s Turf Replacement Rebate Program. By promoting the use of sustainable plant choices, residents can create gardens that are not only beautiful and diverse but also long-lasting and water-wise.
Upper Water also offers free Water Smart Home Kits. Each kit includes a variety of indoor and outdoor EPA WaterSense-labeled devices, such as faucet aerators, showerhead, and sprinkler nozzles. The kits also contain reliable tools like a ratcheting PVC cutter, toilet supply line, PVC slip fitting, and PVC glue. The goal is to help residents develop a proactive approach to leak prevention and detection at home, encouraging residents to fix leaks or replace traditional water-wasting devices with more efficient alternatives.
Click here for a Water Smart Kit
Save the Date: Tree Planting in the San Gabriel Mountains
This fall, Upper Water invites the community to join our Watershed Restoration Program, hosted in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. Since 1991, this program has played a key role in protecting our local groundwater by maintaining a healthy watershed in the San Gabriel Mountains.
The first volunteer day will take place on Saturday, October 18th, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Volunteers of all ages are welcome! Students and youth organizations can earn community service hours while enjoying a morning of tree planting, environmental learning, and outdoor fun.
Stay tuned for sign-up information and additional details on our website: Watershed Restoration Program – Upper Water.
Pure Water Outreach
Last month, General Manager Tom Love joined the Pure Water Community Bike Ride to share insights about the San Gabriel Valley’s water supply with participants. The one-day event was hosted by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts, and ActiveSGV. The 18-mile route provided a visual representation of how water moves through the San Gabriel Valley system and offered an opportunity to discuss the region’s largest proposed water recycling project, a partnership between Metropolitan Water District and Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. Once at full scale, the program would produce up to 150 million gallons of purified water per day—enough to meet the annual water needs of approximately 500,000 homes.
Jeff Seymour Family Center, El Monte (07/12/25)
Curious to take a tour of the Pure Water demonstration center in Carson?
Join Metropolitan Water District on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at 10 a.m. for an in-person tour and presentation at the Grace F. Napolitano Pure Water Southern California Innovation Center. Learn more about Pure Water Southern California (PWSC) program, the demonstration plant, its state-of-the-art purification process, and the vital role purified water projects play in securing
our region’s future water supply.
In addition, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts will host a tour of the PWSC program on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 9 a.m. Click the dates to sign up.
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
