• Annual awards program recognizes leaders in landscape water conservation; New State of The Union Award recognizes outstanding achievements in landscape water conservation by state/local municipalities and water agencies
Rain Bird, the leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services, announced today that it is seeking nominations for the 2009 Intelligent Use of Water™ Awards. The annual Leadership Award recognizes individuals or organizations whose innovation, leadership, ingenuity and dedication to the management and protection of Earth's most precious natural resource through improved landscape water-efficiency has raised the standard for outdoor water conservation.
In addition, U.S. municipalities and states with city- or state-wide water conservation programs are invited to nominate themselves for Rain Bird's inaugural State of The Union award, recognizing outstanding achievements in landscape water management by public water management entities.
>> Nominations for both awards are currently being accepted online. The nominations period ends July 31, 2009.
Intelligent Use of Water Leadership Award Open to both consumers and professionals, the Intelligent Use of Water Leadership Award honors persons or organizations whose innovation, leadership, ingenuity and implementation of landscape water-efficiency practices has raised the standard for outdoor water conservation. Following the close of the nomination period (July 31, 2009), an independent panel of judges will select five finalists. The recipient of the 2009 Intelligent Use of Water Leadership Award will be awarded $10,000 and will be featured in a short film highlighting their contributions to outdoor water conservation. The award will be presented and the film shown at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 7-9, 2009.
Intelligent Use of Water State of The Union Award
The Intelligent Use of Water State of The Union Award will recognize city and state municipalities and water agencies that excel in implementing effective landscape water-efficiency and conservation programs and initiatives. Following the close of the nominations period (July 31, 2009), five winners will be selected by an independent panel of judges and announced at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 7-9. These winners will also be awarded positions as panelists on Rain Bird's Intelligent Use of Water Summit XI, to be held at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., in April 2010. As panelists, they will have the opportunity to showcase their award-winning case study to an audience of U.S. and international water management leaders.
Emanating from the same ideals that support Rain Bird's core commitment to The Intelligent Use of Water, the Intelligent Use of Water Awards seek to bring about a greater knowledge and awareness of the need for water conservation. The 2009 Intelligent Use of Water Awards will be judged by an esteemed panel of landscape and water-efficiency experts, each with a unique understanding of the relationship between better landscape designs and reduced landscape water waste. Judges for the 3rd annual Intelligent Use of Water Award program are:
• Dan Stark, Executive Director of the American Public Gardens Association
• Marty Eberhardt, Executive Director of The Water Conservation Garden in El Cajon, Calif.; Winner of the 2007 Intelligent Use of Water Award
• Denis Gourdeau, Water Management Coordinator, City of Calgary Parks, Alberta, Canada
• Christopher S. Gray, Sr., Golf Course Superintendent at Marvel Golf Club in Benton, Kentucky; Winner of the 2008 Intelligent Use of Water Award
Based in Azusa, Calif., Rain Bird Corporation is a leading manufacturer and provider of irrigation products and services.
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