News Releases

News Release

For Immediate Release

Contact: Brandon Moore
bmoore@tampabaywater.org
(727) 791-2304

Now Accepting Applications for the 2023 Tampa Bay Community Water Wise Awards

CLEARWATER, Fla. (Feb. 16, 2023) - Awards season is open for the 2023 Tampa Bay Community Water Wise Awards program, which recognizes residents and businesses with water thrifty landscapes in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. Residents may apply online at awards.tampabaywaterwise.org until June 30. Winners receive a custom mosaic garden stone, handcrafted by a local artist, as well as recognition by local elected officials.

Earning a coveted award stone requires balancing Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ elements with attractive design, minimal maintenance, and efficient irrigation techniques that result in reduced water use.

Outdoor irrigation accounts for the greatest amount of discretionary water use in Tampa Bay area homes. Up to 50 percent of water used is from outdoor watering, which means the greatest potential to save water can be a water-efficient landscape.

“The Tampa Bay Community Water Wise Awards rewards those who are committed to conserving our water resources through water-efficient landscaping,” said Amelia Brown, Tampa Bay Water’s demand management program manager. “Our region is growing and it is important that we save as much water as we can.”

The program is a partnership between Tampa Bay Water, the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) County Extension and the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program to recognize those who successfully implement efficient irrigation techniques and Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ principles into unique and attractive landscape designs that can positively impact the environment.

If you have an attractive, water-efficient landscape, now is the time to enter the Tampa Bay Community Water Wise Awards and share your creation with your community.

About Tampa Bay Water

Tampa Bay Water is the largest wholesale water supplier in Florida, providing high-quality drinking water to its members, who in turn, supply water to more than 2.5 million residents of the Tampa Bay area. Tampa Bay Water member governments include Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties and the cities of New Port Richey, St. Petersburg and Tampa. To learn more, visit tampabaywater.org.

About the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences

The mission of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is to develop knowledge relevant to agricultural, human and natural resources and to make that knowledge available to sustain and enhance the quality of human life. With more than a dozen research facilities, 67 county Extension offices, and award-winning students and faculty in the UF College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, UF/IFAS brings science-based solutions to the state’s agricultural and natural resources industries, and all Florida residents. To learn more, visit ifas.ufl.edu.

About the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™  Program

The Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ (FFL) Program was designed to help residents and business owners create and maintain beautiful yards using research-based, environmentally sustainable landscaping practices. This program provides training opportunities and educational services that teach homeowners, landscaping professionals, and green industries how to water efficiently, fertilize appropriately, manage yard pests responsibly, and more. To learn more, visit ffl.ifas.ufl.edu.