City of Santa Fe
Water Conservation Office

Our Water, Our Future!

The theme for the 2011, 8th Annual Children's Water Conservation Poster Contest is: Our Water, Our Future!

Water is our most precious resource-more valuable than oil, more precious than gold-the essential ingredient of our life, culture, history, and future. Water affects the lives of every creature, organism, and plant on earth. It is critical to nourishing and fostering life. No matter who you are, where you live, or what you do, water is vital to your existence. We must use our water efficiently and be water savvy. Now is the time to become involved in water conservation because the future of our water supply is up to us!

Each year, the earth's population increases; however, there is the same amount of water on Earth today as there was when the Earth was formed. Of all the world's water, approximately 97 percent is undrinkable. About two percent is unattainable in ice caps and glaciers. The remaining one percent is all we can use to sustain life. Take the time to think about the ways you use water every day, how it affects your life, and look for ways to reduce your use.

Entry Deadline

Posters for the 2011, 8th Annual Children's Water Conservation Poster Contest must be received by 5:00 p.m. Friday, March 25, 2011.

Eligibility

All 1st through 6th grade students attending school in the City of Santa Fe are eligible to submit a poster. This includes public, private, charter, and home-schooled students. Students are encouraged to enter a poster every year regardless of entering a winning poster in a previous contest.

Posters will not be returned and will remain the property of the City of Santa Fe. The City will retain exclusive rights to use posters in future publications.

Guidelines for Students:

• All posters must be drawn horizontally (landscape) on 11 x 14 white poster paper. 11 x 14 poster paper is available at the Water Conservation Office upon request.
• Students may use crayon, watercolor, poster paint, markers, ink, cut paper, tissue paper, and fabric. Please do not use materials that may smear, crack, or chip.
• Students must work on posters individually; a poster created by two or more students will be disqualified.
• Only original art work will be accepted, (no trade-marked, copyrighted materials, or reproduction of popular cartoon characters, e.g., Snoopy, Bart Simpson, etc.)
• The official entry form must be secured with tape to the back of each poster.
• All entries must include name of student, name of school, contact information, and parent signature.

Guidelines for Teachers:

• Discuss with your students why it is important to conserve water. Talk about where our water comes from (not the tap!), our limited supply, and find simple ways they can reduce the amount of water they use every day.
• Encourage your students to create a poster with one important point about how water is important to life and water conservation.
• Remind students to use large lettering and only a few words. Keep the poster simple; use strong colors and heavy lines.

Mail Entries to:

Sangre de Cristo Water Division
Poster Contest
PO Box 909
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87504-0909

Or Drop off Entries at:

Sangre de Cristo Water Division
801 W. San Mateo Road
View Map

Contest Judging

Each year, Water Conservation Staff invites the Mayor, City Manager, City Councilors, Water Division Director, and other distinguished guests to judge poster entries. Judging for the 8th Annual Children's Water Conservation Poster Contest will take place Thursday, March 31, 2011. Judging is based upon the following criteria:

• Water Conservation Message
• Neatness
• Creativity
• Originality
• Artistic Design

The judges will choose three winning posters from each grade; first, second, and third place. From the eighteen winning entries, one was selected to receive the grand prize. An awards ceremony will take place during a City Council meeting at City Hall Council Chambers, 200 Lincoln Avenue to honor poster contest winners In May at 5:00 p.m. Winning posters will be on display in City Hall during the awards ceremony and will remain displayed for the Month of May.

Contest Prizes

Winners receive a trophy with their poster image embossed and a water conservation prize package. First and second place winning posters will be featured in the 2012 Water Conservation Calendar. The grand prize winner's poster will display on the back of a city bus for one year.

Grand Prize:

• Poster Image Displayed on Back of City Bus for One Year
• Poster Image Featured on Water Conservation Calendar Cover

First Prize:

• $100 US Savings Bond
• Trophy with Poster Image Embossed
• Poster Featured in Water Conservation Calendar
• Water Conservation Prize Package

Second Prize:

• $75 US Savings Bond
• Trophy with Poster Image Embossed
• Poster Featured in Water Conservation Calendar
• Water Conservation Prize Package

Third Prize:

• $50 US Savings Bond
• Trophy with Poster Image Embossed
• Water Conservation Prize Package

Children's Water Conservation Poster Contest Winners on Display in the Community

The City of Santa Fe Water Conservation Office's Annual Water Conservation Poster Contest teaches children grades 1st- 6th the importance of Santa Fe's most precious natural resource - water, and how to use it wisely. Hundreds of students participate in the contest each year and 18 winners are selected from the posters submitted to the Water Conservation Office. The winners are awarded prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each grade. Winning posters are laminated and mounted for display at various public venues to share with the community.

Posters will be displayed at City Hall in May, the Genoveva Chavez Community Center in June, and the Water Division in July.

How Can You Get Involved?

The Water Conservation Office is looking for community partners interested in displaying the winning posters in common areas of their buildings on a monthly basis. Water Conservation staff will post and take down display. The posters will be:

• full color original artwork
• laminated and mounted on black gator board
• size including mounting is 17" x 20"
• student's name, grade, and school included on each poster

What are the Benefits?

Supporting the Children's Water Conservation Poster Contest is a win-win partnership. Community partners have the opportunity to showcase colorful, intuitive children's artwork that promotes a positive message about stewardship of the environment, and the Water Conservation Office is given a unique opportunity to reach out to the community about the benefits of conserving water.

Water Conservation Office:
(505) 955-4225

Water Waste Hotline:
(505) 955-4222

Fax:
(505) 955-4208

Daniel Ransom
Water Conservation Manager
(505) 955-4221
dsransom@santafenm.gov

Randy Sugrue
Water Conservation Specialist
(505) 955-4220
rcsugrue@santafenm.gov

Sangre de Cristo Water Division
Water Conservation Office
801 W. San Mateo Road
P.O. Box 909
Santa Fe, NM 87504-0909