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Due to the severe drought, the troop cancelled last year's Spring Car Wash Fundraiser and instead went door to door handing out water conservation materials for East Bay Municipal Utility District.
The troop has a long-standing tradition of holding spring and fall car washes to raise funds for troop activities and expenses. Having first consulted with EBMUD Water Conservation Manager Charles Bohlig in the fall, the troop was given the go-ahead to hold its fall 2014 car wash. At that time, the request to Bohlig included an explanation that the troop would follow state mandated guidelines for water conservation and reduce the hours of operation by 20 percent.
In addition, troop representatives explained that run-off water would be caught and directed into the city sewer system, which was commended by EBMUD; the troop would put senior scouts in charge of hoses to reduce the amount of "horse play"; and nozzles would be placed on the hoses. Bohlig was happy to give the troop the go-ahead, suggesting that they'd talk prior to the anticipated spring 2015 Car Wash.
When contacted in spring of 2015, Bohlig could not give the troop permission for the car wash but came up with the idea that the Boy Scouts could help EBMUD get water saving materials out to the public. Though he couldn't match previous car wash proceeds, his department could pay the troop do this job. When this information was brought to the PLC of this Boy Lead Troop, the boys immediately knew that cancelling the car wash was the right thing to do and helping EBMUD educate the people of Moraga would be a great way to face the drought head-on.
On May 2, 2015, the boys and their parents met at Moraga Commons Park to pick up the plastic door hangers that contained a placard explaining the five steps all EBMUD customers must take to reduce their water consumption, dye tabs for toilet leak detection and a leaflet on how to "Look for Leaks."
The five steps are:
1) Indoors, use no more than 35 gallons/day/person of water
2) Fix all leaks
3) Outside: water no more than two non-consecutive days perweek
4) No overspray or run off. Water between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
5) No outdoor washing of driveways, sidewalks, etc.
Reach the reporter at:
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA