Durham Recognizes Winners of Water Conservation Poster Contest

City of Durham Mayor William V. “Bill” Bell and the Durham City Council recognized 10 student-artists from six local schools during tonight’s City Council meeting for their winning interpretations in the City’s 2013 Water Conservation Poster Contest.

As part of the City’s annual celebration of Drinking Water Week, the young artists received certificates from the mayor for their winning entries in the contest, which is coordinated annually by the City’s Water Management Department.  The winning entries were selected from among 377 total entries submitted to the City.  The theme for this year’s contest was “Reduce Your Water Footprint!”

Winning entries in the grades K-2 division were:
• Emma Burson, 2nd Grade, Trinity School of Durham – First Place
• Ellie O’Connell, 2nd Grade, Immaculata Catholic School – Second Place
• Ava Astilla, 2nd Grade, Immaculata Catholic School – Third Place (tie)
• Weezie Broughton, 2nd Grade, Trinity School of Durham – Third Place (tie)

Winning entries in the grades 3-5 division were:
• Helene Worthington, 4th Grade, Durham Academy – First Place
• Caroline Aldridge, 4th Grade, Durham Academy – Second Place
• Noor Baruah Jerath, 4th Grade, Montessori Community School – Third Place

Winning entries in the grades 6-8 division were:
• Tyara Brand, 6th Grade, Lowes Grove Middle School – First Place
• Chelsea Castor, 8th Grade, Immaculata Catholic School – Second Place
• Brandy Rodriguez, 6th Grade, Carrington Middle School – Third Place

These winning entries represented Durham in a statewide contest sponsored by the North Carolina chapter of the American Water Works Association/Water Environment Association. Competing with student artists from across the state, the City of Durham is pleased to announce that the following student artists won at the State Level:

State Level 3-5 division winners were:
• Caroline Aldridge, 4th Grade, Durham Academy – First Place
• Helene Worthington, 4th Grade, Durham Academy – Second Place
• Noor Baruah Jerath, 4th Grade, Montessori Community School – Third Place

State Level 6-8 division winners were:
• Tyara Brand, 6th Grade, Lowes Grove Middle School – First Place
• Brandy Rodriguez, 6th Grade, Carrington Middle School – Second Place
• Chelsea Castor, 8th Grade, Immaculata Catholic School – Third Place

The posters are now on display in the lobby of City Hall until May 11 and can also be viewed online.

In addition to recognizing the poster contest winners, Mayor Bell also recognized the City’s Water Management staff for working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to make sure that when customers turn on the tap, clean, safe drinking water flows from the faucet.  Earlier tonight, Mayor Bell issued a proclamation declaring May 5–11, 2013 as “Drinking Water Week” and the month of May as “Drinking Water Month” in Durham.  The proclamation acknowledged the contributions and accomplishments of water plant operators, lab analysts, distribution system technicians and other water industry professionals for their roles in ensuring delivery of this vital resource to customers.

For more information on National Drinking Water Week, the poster contest, and water conservation, visit the City’s website or contact the City’s water conservation program staff with the Water Management Department at (919) 560-4381.

About the Water Management Department
The Water Management Department is responsible for the operation and maintenance of Durham's water supply, water treatment and water reclamation (wastewater treatment) facilities, the collection and distribution systems (including meter reading), and customer billing services. The department has a wide variety of support divisions and programs to maintain the existing infrastructure that provide these integral services and strive to be a responsible steward of the City’s physical assets. For more information, click here or “like” Durham Saves Water on Facebook.