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West Basin MWD and the City Of Malibu Present Water Conservation Awards to Malibu Restaurants

(Malibu, CA) – At the Feb. 8 Malibu City Council Meeting, West Basin Municipal Water District and the City of Malibu presented water conservation awards to 14 Malibu restaurants that participated in the Cash for Kitchens Program, one of the many free water conservation programs for businesses in the West Basin service area.

The free program was recently made available to commercial kitchens and restaurants in the cities of Culver City, Malibu, West Hollywood, and Topanga and other unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County.

“I am proud of the water conservation efforts made by these Malibu restaurants amidst the severe drought,” said Malibu Mayor Laura Rosenthal. “Malibu can achieve the mandatory 36% water conservation goal if every one of us reduces our water use. As heavy water users, and as businesses with a constant interface with the public, restaurants are in a unique position to reduce water use, and help raise awareness on water conservation.”

Cash for Kitchens provides restaurants with professional assistance and tools to reduce upfront costs of water conservation, such as a water-use assessment survey, free water efficiency devices, rebate information, and educational material that will help employees become more water efficient. This program will also help develop behavioral changes that will lead towards a water-efficient kitchen and lifestyle. West Basin hopes to create long-lasting adjustments that kitchen staff and management can incorporate into their day-to-day operations.

West Basin Division 4 Director Scott Houston presented the awards during the Malibu City Council meeting on Monday, Feb. 8 at Malibu City Hall.

"It's gratifying that a number of Malibu restaurants have participated in our Cash for Kitchens program and are beginning to see measurable water conservation results,” Houston said. “West Basin is committed to working with residents and businesses across our service area to further reduce water consumption during this historic California drought."

The Cash for Kitchens program was initially established in 2009, in partnership with the South Bay Environmental Services Center to serve the South Bay cities within West Basin’s service area. Many restaurants throughout the South Bay have already participated in this free program. With the overwhelming success of the program, West Basin hired Hastings & Co. Inc. to expand the program to more cities and restaurants in 2015.

Cash for Kitchens program funding is currently exhausted, but the program will resume later in 2016. For more information about the Cash for Kitchens program, visit http://www.westbasin.org/c4k.html [http://www.westbasin.org/c4k.html] [http://www.westbasin.org/c4k] .

(Photo caption: West Basin District 4 Director Scott Houston (left) and Jimmy Chavez, General Manger of Duke's Malibu, one of the 14 Malibu restaurants to receive Cash for Kitchens Awards at the Feb. 8 Malibu City Council Meeting.)

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West Basin Municipal Water District (West Basin) is a wholesale water agency that provides imported drinking water to nearly one million people in 17 cities and unincorporated areas in Los Angeles County. West Basin is an industry leader in water recycling, conservation, and water education. West Basin is currently implementing a Water Reliability program to reduce the agency’s dependence on imported water and develop drought-proof local water supplies. The program includes water recycling, water conservation, groundwater desalting and ocean water desalination. Visit www.westbasin.org [www.westbasin.org ] to learn more.

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