A Grassroots Action Campaign to Protect Water Quality and Solve America’s Ocean Pollution Crisis

Residents from more than 2,800 cities across the United States took part in the 2025 Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation, held April 1–30, pledging to save over 559 billion gallons of water in the year ahead.

The annual campaign, now in its 15th year, encourages people to take simple, measurable actions at home to protect water quality, reduce waste, and build greater resiliency in local water systems. This year’s campaign saw participation from mayors in 23 states, each rallying their residents to see which city could become the most “water wise” in the nation.

The cities with the highest percentage of residents making conservation pledges in their respective population categories included:

• Laguna Beach, Calif.
• Union City, N.J.
• Jersey City, N.J.
• Mesa, Ariz.
• Columbus, Ohio.

From small coastal towns to major metropolitan areas, communities across the country came together through mayoral leadership and resident action to promote lasting, water-smart habits. Altogether, thousands of participants made pledges to fix leaks, reduce harmful runoff, and eliminate single-use plastics—choices that, collectively, will keep 14.6 million pounds of waste out of landfills and prevent more than 2.2 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.

Thousands Join Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge to Protect Clean Water and Stop Pollution at the Source

But the impact doesn’t end with the pledge. Every participant is invited to turn their commitment into measurable action using the Wyland Foundation’s MyVolunteer Water hub—a free, online tool that guides users through practical steps they can take at home and in their community to protect water quality.

From replacing high-flow fixtures and rethinking outdoor landscaping to organizing local cleanups or eliminating toxic household products, the hub makes it easy for people to follow through on their pledges and track their results.

How Cities Can Lead the Way in Sustainable Water Solutions

These actions are tied directly to local watershed health, giving participant from cities across America a tangible sense of how their efforts improve conditions not only in their neighborhoods but also downstream, all the way to the ocean. The Challenge, presented by the Wyland Foundation with support from the U.S. EPA, The Toro Company, National League of Cities, Zenni Optical, and CBS Los Angeles, underscores the critical importance of empowering individuals to make environmentally responsible choices in their daily lives.

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In 2025, the Foundation also introduced a new AI-powered Impact Insight Tool, giving participants real-time, personalized feedback on the environmental and financial benefits of their pledges—from savings on water and energy bills to reductions in stormwater pollution and infrastructure strain. The tool helps localize issues to make change more relevant wherever the participants live.

Clean water, healthy oceans, and sustainable practices remain at the core of a brighter, more resilient future—for our cities, our children, and the planet we share. “The way we use water at home directly impacts the health of our ocean,” said organization founder Wyland. “The Challenge reminds us that to protect water quality it needs to start not offshore, but right here—in our yards, kitchens, and communities. It’s not just about shorter showers; it’s about rethinking how we live, and recognizing that small changes upstream can have a big impact downstream.”

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