Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL - The Alachua County Environmental Protection Department and the University of Florida Office of Sustainability (with support from Gainesville Regional Utilities and the UF Physical Plant Division) are coordinating the “How Low Can You Go?” 2014 Water Challenge, in which participating Greek houses engage in a friendly competition to see which house can best reduce their water use. Sorority and fraternity houses on the University of Florida campus have a chance to win a $250 donation to their chosen philanthropic organization.

The challenge will run from January 20 to February 28. It is open to the sixteen Panhellenic sorority houses and the twenty-five Interfraternity Council fraternity houses on UF’s campus. Points will be awarded weekly based on each house’s overall percent reduction in water use. Additionally, there will be weekly challenges for earning bonus points, including competing for the lowest per capita water usage among chapter members, attending a water conservation presentation with Alachua County staff, and asking chapter members to visit the Sustainability Hut on campus. The chapter with the most combined points will receive a $250 donation to their philanthropic organization. Second and third place houses will receive prize packs from Ginnie Springs or Blue Springs Park.

The competition aims to raise awareness about the importance of water conservation for protecting springs and future water supplies and is sponsored in part by Blue Springs Park and Ginnie Springs.

Stacie Greco, Water Conservation Coordinator with the Alachua County Environmental Protection Department says, “It is important for everyone to understand that the water that comes out of our taps and sprinklers is from the same source that our rivers and springs depend upon.”

Kappa Kappa Gamma won the 2013 competition, which was open only to sorority houses on campus. Pi Beta Phi won second place, and Delta Zeta won third place.

Visit the Greek Water Challenge Facebook Group.

For more information, contact Stacie Greco at 352-264-6829 or sgreco@alachuacounty.us.