ST. GEORGE—Citizens for Dixie’s Future, a local nonprofit organization, has teamed up with the popular clothing company, Patagonia, to host an educational workshop on water use efficiency through sustainable water rates. The workshop is open to residents and regional officials.

On Oct. 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Entrada, Tom Ash, a water rate expert, will present a workshop on achieving water and financial sustainability. The workshop is designed for city officials, water managers, and community members, and citizens who represent diverse interests in Washington County.

This free educational workshop is meant to move the dialogue between residents, water managers, and city officials forward concerning the benefits of sustainable water rates. Ash said:

I come from a state with a long history of drought and water-supply limitations. We (public agencies) are tasked with providing water for the economy, agriculture, and the environment. Everyone has a stake in making sure there is water available today and for tomorrow. We, here in California, have also made every mistake you could imagine along that road which now gives me the opportunity to share what has worked and what has not worked related to water use, water conservation, and the requirements for sustaining a water supply in a dry place. In this workshop I will describe how individual water agencies are succeeding with costs, conservation, and community acceptance all at the same time.

Ash has over 25 years of experience in the fields of water use efficiency, public education, and horticulture. As a water conservation specialist from the University of California, Riverside, Ash was the university liaison to water agencies in Southern California starting in 1987. He was instrumental in the design and implementation of the first water budget tiered-rate structure for water agencies. The Irvine Ranch Water District rate structure resulted in a reduction of 61 percent in landscape water use, stabilized agency revenues, and grew customer satisfaction to over 90 percent. Ash has advised the American Water Works Association, was an advisor to the U.S. Drought Policy Task Force in 2003 and is the Strategic Efficiency & Outreach Advisor with the Inland Empire Utilities Agency in Southern California.

Citizens for Dixie’s Future, also known as CDF, is excited to host Ash and the workshop and is hopeful that it will help citizens understand the benefits of sustainable water rates and help pave the way for city and county officials in moving forward in preserving our water supplies. CDF believes that through the right information, tools, and planning, all stakeholders can gain through efficient water use.

“Tom Ash is a highly respected expert in water pricing and its impact on conservation,” said Tom Butine, President of CDF, “Our organization is pleased to be able to bring him to Washington County to engage our water policy leaders in a conversation that can benefit our future.”

Event details and resources

• What:Workshop on water use efficiency through sustainable water rate
• When:  Thursday, Oct. 30, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m
• Where: Entrada, 2588 Sinagua Trail, St. George, Utah
• For more information visit CDF’s website www.citizensfordixie.org
• Contact CDF by telephone, 435-635-2133, or by email

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Submitted by Citizens for Dixie’s Future

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @STGnews