Enter WRD's

11th Annual Student Art Contest 

Catch the Flow! The Water Harvest Festival is

October 25th

Power Up Your Savings: It's National Energy Awareness Month

One Month Remaining - Submit Your Entry

for the Annual Student Art Contest 

The Water Replenishment District needs your creativity to spread the word on the importance of water and water conservation in the 11th Annual Student Art Contest. 

If you are a K-6 grade student from the WRD service area, you have a chance to win a $75 Amazon Gift Card*, a Certificate of Achievement, other school-related prizes, and have your artwork published in WRD's 2026 Water Awareness Calendar!  

Deadline: Sunday, November 2nd, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. 

Submission Options 

• Submit through the online form 
• Mail to WRD's Headquarters BEFORE the deadline: 4040 Paramount Blvd. Lakewood, CA 90712 (Attn: Janel Ancayan) 
• Drop off in the after-hours mailbox at WRD's Headquarters 
• Teachers with more than 10 submissions can schedule WRD staff to pick up at your school 

Please see a step-by-step list of how to participate in the Full Contest Rules section and check out the Student Art Contest Flyer and Parental Approval Form here. 

The Water Harvest Festival Returns

West Basin Municipal Water District invites the community to join in the celebration of a major district milestone at the 2025 Water Harvest festival, commemorating 30 years of recycled water production.

The event on Saturday, October 25, 2025, has a theme that honors West Basin’s longstanding leadership in sustainable water solutions since opening its flagship water recycling facility in 1995. The annual festival blends fun and education to raise public awareness of local water sustainability solutions and promotes environmental stewardship. 

Attendees can enjoy: 

• Live stage entertainment and music 
• Free food, giveaways and raffles 
• Costume contests and kids’ activity zones 
• Interactive games and exhibits promoting water conservation 
• Educational booths from local partners and water agencies 
• Facility tours of the Edward C. Little Water Recycling Facility led by West Basin operations staff and engineers 
• Free parking on-site 

West Basin’s Water Harvest Festival draws thousands of attendees annually and offers a unique opportunity for residents of all ages to experience how recycled water is made and why it’s essential to building regional water resilience. 

For more information and schedule of events, visit WestBasinCA.gov/water-harvest. 

Power Up Your Savings:

It's National Energy Awareness Month

October is National Energy Awareness Month: An observance designated by the U.S. Department of Energy to promote energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy. This month, we are encouraged to be conscious of our energy use, adopt energy-saving practices, and make energy-efficient choices to reduce costs and protect the environment. Learn more about what the SBCCOG does to foster a more energy-efficient South Bay along with our partners at SoCalREN on our website's Energy Efficiency hub.

Metro Rider's Share Transportation Experiences

Ayla Harp had just landed in Los Angeles from Seattle, excited to reunite with five relatives flying in from Canada. Their plan was simple: meet at LAX and head to Long Beach. The last time they attempted this trip a few years ago, the taxi fare alone exceeded $100.  

This time, they decided to try something new — the LAX/Metro Transit Center Station (also known as LAX/MTC for short). They hopped on the free airport shuttle (Metro Connector), bought their fares, and the entire trip for all six of them came to just $10.50. 



“We were looking for a cheaper option and this was great,” Ayla said, smiling. With six carry-ons and some backpacks in tow, they were relieved to find plenty of space on the train. What helped most, she added, were the Metro Ambassadors in green shirts: “We got here and didn’t know what we were doing, but they guided us through everything.” 

To read more about Metro rider’s experiences, visit The Source article. 

Receive a $2,500 to $5,000 rebate on ENERGY STAR certified solar thermal systems with a natural gas water heater backup. The unit must have a Solar Uniform Energy Factor (SUEF) of 1.8 or greater. In addition, a new installation of an ENERGY STAR certified water heater in conjunction with the solar installation is required. Limit one per household.

Mail-In Application: Complete the appropriate form and mail to:



SoCalGas

Residential Solar Thermal Water Heater Rebate

P.O. Box 512670

Los Angeles, CA 90051-0670

2025 Application: Download the 2025 Residential Solar Thermal Water Heater Rebate Application (PDF) for purchases installed January 1, 2025 - December 31, 2025. Must be postmarked by December 31, 2025, to be eligible for the rebate.

Appliance Rebates

Rebate will not exceed the purchase price of the unit. Purchase price does not include sales tax or other taxes, installation, shipping, or delivery or any associated costs. New construction homes do not qualify.

You may also be eligible for federal tax credits with the purchase of qualifying ENERGY STAR appliances. Learn more.

Attend the Clean N Green Festival - Saturday, November 15

Clean Water Works Education Foundation in conjunction with the LA. County Sanitation Department will be hosting tours of various facilities including, the A.K. Warren Water Resource Facility, the Pure Water Napolitano Innovation Center, and the Bixby Marshland at their Clean N Green Festival on Saturday, November 15.

Seating is limited and guests are encouraged to sign up for their tour when they arrive at the festival. 

For more information, please visit: Clean N Green Fest

Visit our booth at these upcoming South Bay events

where we will be providing information about local water- and energy-saving programs, and other opportunities to help the residents of our subregion.

Upcoming SBCCOG Outreach Events

Job Opportunities

Metro is seeking qualified candidates to join one of the nation’s largest and most innovative transportation systems.

• Bus Operator
• Contract Administrator (Professional Services)
• Supervisor, Accounting
• Transportation Associate (ELTP)

For a full lists of Metro job openings visit their career page here.

Administrative Assistant Job Opening

The SBCCOG is seeking an administrative assistant to perform routine to moderately difficult clerical assignments as requested and is responsible for tending to all duties associated with the reception desk. This individual will assist with clerical assignments, such as meeting minutes, support, and logistics; data entry and database management; managing calendars and scheduling; reporting and creating process flow-charts; preparing correspondence; and coordinating with volunteers and interns on administrative support tasks.

For more information, visit our Employment Opportunities page.



Learn more about

the South Bay Environmental Service Center (SBESC),

Contact Martha Segovia

310-371-7222 or

martha@southbaycities.org

 Links to Partner Resources En Español:

• Metro - "El Pasajero"

Disclaimer

This newsletter is a collaboration of articles written by the partners of the South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) and is published as provided.