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<p style="font-weight:bold; display: inline; line-height:150%; font-size: 115%;">P.O. BOX 6015 <br />COLUMBIA, MO 65205</p></div>
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<p style="font-size: 150%; font-weight: bold;">FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE</p>
<p style="font-size: 120%; margin-top: -5px; font-weight:bold;">December 6, 2024</p>
<p style="float:right; font-weight:bold; margin-bottom: 25px; font-size: 100%; text-align:right;">CONTACT: Jason West
<br />Communications & Outreach Supervisor
<br />City of Columbia Utilities
<br />573.874.7639
<br />Jason.West@CoMo.gov</p>
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<div style="font-size: 110%; line-height:150%;"><h1 style="clear:both; margin-top: 75px; margin-bottom: 10px; font-weight: bold; font-size: 130%;">City of Columbia Utilities recognized by Environmental Protection Agency program</h1>
<div class="content"><span style="padding-left: 50px;">(COLUMBIA, MO)</span> - <p style="display:inline;"><span style="font-weight: 400; color: 000000;">City of Columbia Utilities was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), through the EPA WaterSense program for going above and beyond to promote WaterSense and water efficiency.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; color: 000000;">WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by the EPA, is a label for water-efficient products and a resource for helping U.S. citizens save water. WaterSense and its more than 2,000 utility, manufacturer, retail, builder, and other organizational partners make it possible for consumers and businesses to save water, energy, and money by producing and promoting water-efficient products, homes, and programs. Since 2006, WaterSense partners have helped save 8.7 trillion gallons of water and $207 billion on consumer utility bills.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; color: 000000;">City of Columbia Utilities offers two programs to encourage water conservation for residential and commercial customers. The irrigation conservation program encourages the upgrading of irrigation appliances, such as sprinkler heads, rain sensors, and WaterSense-rated smart irrigation controls, and the Efficient Flush program encourages the replacement of older, less efficient toilets with new WaterSense-rated models.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; color: 000000;">Utilities also provide water conservation kits to income-eligible households that receive pledges for utility assistance from Central Missouri Community Action, as well as the Boone County Health Department, to help reduce the customers’ water consumption.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; color: 000000;">"Behind this great program is a dedicated and passionate staff committed to providing quality programs to the citizens of Columbia," said David Sorrell, City of Columbia Utilities Director. "Our citizens are increasingly looking for ways to conserve resources and save money, the Utilities department is committed to providing possible solutions. It is great to have recognition of this hard work and dedication."</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; color: 000000;">In addition, Utilities conducts education sessions on water conservation, reaching roughly 1,000 children every school year. Utilities’ educational programs are targeted to the students with activities that will appeal to their age group.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; color: 000000;">"I am pleased to recognize City of Columbia Water & Light for going above and beyond in its WaterSense partnership and other water-saving activities, especially its water conservation education and hands-on activities with elementary school children," said Veronica Blette, the acting associate director for the Water Infrastructure Division in the EPA’s Office of Wastewater Management. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; color: 000000;">With a long tradition of delivering quality services with well-maintained infrastructure, City of Columbia Utilities is a municipally owned department that provides safe, reliable, and efficient service for nearly 70,000 residential and commercial customers in basic community needs including Electricity, Water, Sewer, Solid Waste, Stormwater, and Railroad.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400; color: 000000;">For more information on the City’s efficiency programs, visit ColumbiaPowerPartners.com.</span></p>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: 000000;"><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re Proud to be Working for You</span></em></span></p></div>
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<div style="margin-top: 15px; margin-bottom: 20px; text-align:center;"><p>City of Columbia Vision<br>
<em>Columbia is the best place for everyone to live, work, learn and play.</em></p>
<p>City of Columbia Mission<br>
<em>To serve the public equitably through democratic, transparent and efficient government.</em></p>
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<p style="text-align:center;">-30-</p>
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