Christmas is coming early for Mill Avenue, yet instead of Santa Claus with toys it's an ASU alumna with faucet aerators.
Karissa Vasquez graduated from ASU in the spring of 2025 with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences and an interest in a future in water management. After graduating, she has funded and organized a water conservation initiative for businesses on Tempe's famous Mill Avenue.
"I just wanted to be able to give something back to them, because I know a lot of the time we're asking a lot from them," Vasquez said.
The idea behind the "Mill Ave, Mind Your Water" initiative was to take a proactive approach to water conservation for businesses. Instead of asking businesses to cut back on the amount of water they use, Vasquez aims to provide up to 30 businesses with a small gift bag.
Each bag includes a faucet aerator, leak detection tablets and custom stickers with pointers on how to save water.
"I want to educate local businesses on how these tools can be not only helpful but practical," Vasquez said.
Family business
Karissa Vasquez said she initially wanted to add candy to the bags, but then she decided to propose that Christian Vasquez, her brother and the owner of the Tacos Calafia location on Mill Avenue, add a free taco coupon for the restaurant.
"It was actually Karissa's idea," Christian Vasquez said. "She had asked me and I told her 100%."
Christian Vasquez said he wanted to aid her initiative to reward her support for his business.
"She's helped me so much with the business, there's nothing I wouldn't do for her to repay her back," Christian Vasquez said.
Christian Vasquez, like Karissa, also once attended ASU, but dropped out to support his family after his 2-month-old son was diagnosed with leukemia and later died.
"With all that, all those factors weighing in, I stepped away from school to prioritize the family and the business," Christian Vasquez said.
Christian Vasquez continues to run the business today.
READ MORE: Alumnus to open two new bars on Mill Avenue in historic Rula Bula building
Karissa Vasquez got the inspiration for this initiative while working at Tacos Calafia. She said while they originally installed aerators to make their faucets less squeaky, the conservation of water ended up being a happy accident.
Aerators help by reducing the amount of water that comes out of the faucet and maintaining or improving the water pressure while also acting as a filter, according to Denver Water.
With water being a valued resource in the Phoenix area, Karissa Vasquez said she saw an opportunity to support her community. In total, Karissa Vasquez and her brother put aside $230 to obtain the supplies needed for the gift bags and provide free taco coupons in each one.
READ MORE: ASU students lead clean water initiative in Kenya
Going public
Karissa Vasquez also recruited other family members, including her sister-in-law Erika Navarro, a juniorstudying biological sciences, to help put together the bags. When Karissa Vasquez contacted her, Navarro said she was eager to contribute.
"I did want to help because it's something that's benefitting the local community," Navarro said. "I thought it was cool that she's giving business resources instead of just telling them 'you need to save water.'"
While the family is not from the area, Christian Vasquez said that this project helps them get more involved in Tempe.
"Something like this allows us to to support the community and become a pillar in the community, as well," Christian Vasquez said.
Karissa Vasquez said in a written statement she plans to deliver the bags to the businesses around the end of the month.
Edited Mia Sweador, Carsten Oyer and Sophia Keeling.
Reach the reporter at nmohrman@asu.edu
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