The Education and Public Service Committee of UCOWR presented the 1997 Education and Public Service Award to Carole Baker for her work with the Learning to be Water Wise & Energy Efficient.  The program Learning to be Water Wise & Energy Efficient combines a curriculum teaching water efficiency and conservation with the distribution of high-quality plumbing equipment for installation in students' homes.  The flexible curriculum developed by the National Energy Foundation conveys the conservation message through 10 hands-on activities, with lessons incorporating math, language, art, science and group dynamics.

Ms. Baker coordinated the recruitment of public and private sponsors from throughout The Subsidence District's jurisdiction to fund the purchase of the $28 home plumbing and educational packages distributed to schoolchildren. More than 400 sponsors, including municipal utility districts, river authorities, and private corporations such as Texas Instruments, and several civil engineering firms have participated.  Sponsorship of more than $2.6 million to date has been generated.