The New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) hosted a virtual celebration for student participants in the 36th Annual Water Resources Art and Poetry Contest.
This year, DEP received more than 1,500 entries from 2nd through 12th grade students representing more than 90 public, independent, and parochial schools in New York City and the East and West-of-Hudson Watersheds.
DEP says that the student entries beautifully depicted a genuine understanding of and appreciation for New York’s water resources, the drinking water supply, harbor water, wastewater treatment, and the importance of water conservation. Student entries also raised awareness about the importance of maintaining New York City’s critical water supply and wastewater infrastructure.
“I want to sincerely thank all of the young environmental stewards who participated in this year’s contest,” said DEP Commissioner Rohit T. Aggarwala. “Despite the ongoing challenges posed by the pandemic, the art and poetry submissions were as creative and impressive as ever,”
At the event, the contest winners, called Water Champions, were honored for their outstanding work in the presence of family members, teachers, and school administrators.
Through paintings, haikus, collages, videos and more, students creatively depicted the importance of water, NYC’s drinking water supply and wastewater treatment systems, marine ecosystems, climate resiliency, and environmental stewardship.
A group of judges selected about 100 entries as this year’s Water Champions. All student participants will receive a certificate recognizing their contribution, and the Water Champions will also receive a gift bag before the end of the school year.
The 2022 contest focused on five central themes:
- Water, A Precious Resource: To recognize the importance of a clean and plentiful supply of water.
- New York City Water Supply System: To explore the history of the New York City Water Supply System and its present-day source, operation, delivery, protection, and maintenance.
- New York City Wastewater Treatment System: To understand our sewer infrastructure; the purpose of, and process for, cleaning wastewater in New York City and in the East and West of Hudson Watersheds.
- Harbor Water Quality and Healthy Marine Ecosystems: To discover the richness of our marine life, and opportunities for recreation and commerce on local waterbodies; to understand the work that is being done to monitor and ensure healthy water quality.
- Water Stewardship and Climate Change: To consider our influence on the environment and to take action on environmental issues that influence our neighborhoods, our cities, and beyond.
Winning entries can be viewed on DEP’s Flickr Page.
