COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
A New Los Angeles County Collaboration Washes Away Bloodthirsty Mosquitoes and Water Wasting Behavior By San Gabriel Valley Mosquito & Vector Control District and Walnut Valley Water District
In the midst of a stay-at-home winter, two local agencies created a buzz with a new resource for residents of San Gabriel Valley, a region located in Los Angeles County. The two agencies, the San Gabriel Valley Mosquito and Vector Control District (SGVMVCD) and Walnut Valley Water District (WVWD), were worlds apart, but came together to create Los Angeles County’s first webinar series that blends public health with water conservation. The webinar series, “Be Water Wise and Bite Free,” teaches residents how to conserve water around their properties and prevent pesky mosquito problems -- all from the safety of their homes. “Walnut Valley Water District is committed to providing its customers with free educational resources to enhance water use efficiency and promote public health. Together with SGVMVCD, we’re able to offer our residents a free webinar series that promotes water conservation and mosquito prevention actions,” said WVWD Management Analyst Jillian Keller. 18
The Threat and Opportunity
With the rapid spread of COVID-19, the ability of traditionally educating residents in-person came to a screeching halt. “We normally participate in 120 community events and school visits from spring to fall,” said SGVMVCD Public Information Officer Levy Sun. “When cities, districts, and other organizers canceled the year’s events to protect public health, we faced an educational drought.” Providing quality education to the public quickly switched to a digital format. “With in-person classes and events on hold during the pandemic, collaborating with SGVMVCD on a webinar series created the perfect outlet for our agencies to share important messages with the public,” said Keller. Both special districts jumped on the opportunity as they collaborated. Going virtual allowed the collaborative webinar to give examples of increased instances of water misuse on residential properties and address the fact that more people are exposed to disease-spreading mosquitoes. “The world of water and mosquitoes is deeply intertwined California Special Districts • May-June 2021
