More than 1,300 students entered this year’s Water Resources Art
and Poetry Contest, sponsored by New York City’s water utility,
known as the Department of Environmental Protection. Some 60
winners were named as “Water Champions” by a panel of judges.
Art by Lily H., grades 6–7.
Photo: New York City DEQ Art and Poetry
Contest
“For more than three decades, DEP’s annual Art and Poetry
Contest has given young New Yorkers a wonderful opportunity to use
their artistic abilities to learn about and express the importance
of protecting our environment and water resources,” DEP
Commissioner Vincent Sapienza said in a
press release announcing the contest winners. “Nearly half the
State of New York relies on the city’s water supply system, so this
is a terrific way for students in both New York City and beyond to
celebrate our shared natural resources.”
Each year, the New York City Department of Environmental
Protection holds a student art and poetry contest on the theme of
water resources, including water conservation and wastewater
treatment.
By Betty Jin, grade 6-7,
Nathaniel Hawthorne Middle School, Bayside, N.Y. / NYC
Department of Environmental Protection
This year’s contest attracted 580 entries among students from 68
schools in the region. All participants received a “Water
Ambassadors” certificate, and 39 were named as this year’s “Water
Champions.”
“The Water Resources Art and Poetry Contest is an engaging way
to teach students about the infrastructure that supplies more than
half the state’s population with clean drinking water and has
helped dramatically improve the health of our waterways,” said DEP
Commissioner Emily Lloyd in a news
release, which includes a list of the 39 winners.
“DEP manages New York City’s water supply, providing more than
one billion gallons of water each day to more than nine million
residents, including eight million in New York City.
By Tasnim Ahmed, grades
10-12, Newcomers High School, Long Island City,
N.Y.
“The water is delivered from a watershed that extends more than
125 miles from the city, comprising 19 reservoirs and three
controlled lakes. Approximately 7,000 miles of water mains, tunnels
and aqueducts bring water to homes and businesses throughout the
five boroughs, and 7,500 miles of sewer lines and 96 pump stations
take wastewater to 14 in-city treatment plants.
“DEP has nearly 6,000 employees, including almost 1,000 in the
upstate watershed.
“In addition, DEP has a robust capital program, with nearly $14
billion in investments planned over the next 10 years that will
create up to 3,000 construction-related jobs per year. This capital
program is responsible for critical projects like City Water Tunnel
No. 3; the Staten Island Bluebelt program, an ecologically sound
and cost-effective stormwater management system; the city’s
Watershed Protection Program, which protects sensitive lands
upstate near the city’s reservoirs in order to maintain their high
water quality; and the installation of more than 820,000 Automated
Meter Reading devices, which will allow customers to track their
daily water use, more easily manage their accounts and be alerted
to potential leaks on their properties.”
Miranda Torn, grades 4-5 ,
Blue School, downtown New York City
