Residents across San Bernardino County can look to a neighboring Inland Empire city as a powerful example of how innovation and regional collaboration can protect water resources while strengthening public safety.
In early February, the Riverside Fire Department unveiled a new PumpPod training device that is expected to save millions of gallons of water each year without sacrificing the realism firefighters need to prepare for emergencies. The milestone highlights a growing regional commitment to conservation that resonates strongly in water-conscious San Bernardino County.
City leaders and water agency partners gathered on Feb. 3, as Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and Fire Chief Steve McKinster introduced the PumpPod alongside representatives from Riverside Public Utilities, Western Municipal Water District, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The unveiling marked months of cooperation aimed at preserving scarce water supplies, while maintaining high standards for emergency response readiness throughout the Inland Empire…