The severe drought in California is not considered new news. This record-breaking, four-year drought has put the Golden State in a state of emergency and governor Jerry Brown has imposed strict conservation measures in an effort to reduce the drought’s implications. Some cities have taken promoting conservation into their own hands; for example, San Francisco is encouraging residents to conserve water by promoting a “Brown is the New Green” campaign.
Photo courtesy of CBS News
In Southern California, as an effort to combat wasteful water habits, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California has launched a water-themed Pandora station as part of an ongoing $5.5 million ad campaign to increase water conservation and recycling. With the goal of keeping conservation at the top of listeners’ minds, the station can also be used as a five-minute shower timer. Some of the water-themed songs include “I Wish it Would Rain” by the Temptations, Simon & Garfunkel’s “Bridge over Troubled Water,” Albert Hammond’s “It Never Rains in Southern California,” and Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain.”
On average, wealthier neighborhoods consume three times more water than less affluent ones, according to a recent study by UCLA, which has started the social media trend of drought shaming. Media outlets, as well as other residents, have begun drought shaming celebrities and companies that are not abiding by the mandatory water cutbacks. As the water-saving campaigns are running into the third month, hopefully residents are too busy boogying down to these aqua melodies to waste any water. Have you seen any other campaigns that use themed music stations? We’d love to hear from you!