Coachella Valley Students Can Showcase Artistic Skills To Promote Water Conservation

DESERT HOT SPRINGS, CA — To encourage water conservation and stimulate children's artistic interests, a local water district is inviting youths to create artwork for prizes, emphasizing how to save water, properly dispose of waste and improve water quality, it was announced Friday.

From now until Oct. 1, the Mission Springs Water District is hosting the "Student Art Calendar Contest," open to K-12 students within the MSWD service area, which encompasses Desert Hot Springs and North Palm Springs.

The top 12 drawings will be featured in the district's 2027 community calendar — and winners will receive Amazon gift cards ranging from $25 to $150 each, according to the district.

Officials said the contest provides youths a means to connect with their community while promoting groundwater protection and conservation.

Students have the option to choose one of six key topics on which to base their drawings. Digital and computer-generated art will not be accepted by the district, requiring participants to submit their artwork on white paper using crayons, paint, or colored pencils.

The contest choices are:

— Saving water;

— Proper disposal of fats, oils and grease;

— Water-conscious car washing;

— Drinking water quality;

— Not flushing wipes; and

— Water-efficient desert landscaping.

While black and white art works will be accepted, colorful pieces are preferred, officials said.

By turning complex environmental issues into creative art projects, the contest's goal is to bridge the gap between regional water policy and daily household habits, encouraging families to adopt water-wise behaviors early, the MSWD stated.

Projections are for local water demand to nearly double by 2050, while the desert receives an average of just three inches of rain per year, according to published reports. Protecting groundwater levels remains a top priority.

In the arid Coachella Valley, outdoor landscape irrigation accounts for nearly 70 percent of residential water use, making public awareness essential, according to state and local government agencies.

Art submissions must include a completed entry form, delivered to the district by Oct. 1.

For entry forms, official rules and to learn more about the contest, go to MSWD.org.