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Teaching Water Conservation In Las Cruces

  For most kids in Las Cruces, water is found simply by turning on the tap. But even though they live in the desert and know that water from the sky is rare, having kids wrap their minds around water conservation is a tough task. Although water is clearly essential to all of us, how do you make it funny, friendly, and unforgettable?

 

In 2015 at the Las Cruces Utilities (LCU) Children’s Water Festival, fourth grade students from all over town created their own champion for water conversation and named him “Papa Drop.”

 

Today Papa Drop continues to be the LCU Water Conservation Program mascot who draws children closer to the idea of conserving water. When the kids voted for his name at the festival, it gave the fourth-graders a sense of ownership of the charming drop of water with a face, a mustache, and personality!

 

Education for children is more fun when they have a colorful and memorable figure they can associate with a concept,” explained Rhonda Diaz, LCU Water Conservation Program coordinator. “Papa Drop is humorous - water with a mustache just sticks in your mind.”

 

Over the last three years, Papa Drop has been immensely popular and helpful to water conservation outreach in Las Cruces schools. Former Las Cruces Councilor, Olga Pedroza, was actively supportive of water conservation projects and brought along Papa Drop during her visits to schools. Children and teachers requested copies of the Water Cycle poster with Papa Drop, along with Pedroza who displayed the Water Cycle poster board with Papa Drop in her office at City Hall.

 

Papa Drop shows up not only on posters, but also in articles and handouts that explain the water cycle - evaporation, condensation, and precipitation - in a way that everyone young and old can understand.

 

This summer, Papa Drop’s voice came to life on the radio in a conversation with “Misty Sprinkler” – a new character who needed encouragement to remember the allowed outdoor watering days, punctuated with flamenco music and castanets:

 

  • Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays: Outdoor watering for even-numbered addresses,

  • Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays: Outdoor watering for odd-numbered addresses, and

  • Monday: No watering at all

 
Next it was a journey to movie theaters: this summer, be sure to go early to Allen Theaters in Las Cruces to see the simple animation of Papa Drop and Misty Sprinkler and hear the fun message about water conservation.

 

Submitted by Las Cruces Utilities.  You can reach Las Cruces Utilities at 528-3500 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Las Cruces Utilities provides GAS – WATER – WASTEWATER – SOLID WASTE services to approximately 100,000 Las Cruces residents and businesses.