Water Authority’s Live WaterSmart Photo Contest Begins Today to Celebrate Water Awareness Month
May 01, 2017
With the start of Water Awareness Month today, the San Diego County Water Authority wants to see, and share, what water means to the region’s residents – how they experience it, use it, appreciate it and know of its importance in everyday activities and their surroundings – through the monthlong Live WaterSmart photo contest.
Hosted on Instagram, the contest will offer prizes for something people do every day on social media. Entering is easy – all participants have to do is submit a photo by email to the Water Authority at sdcwa@sdcwa.org that demonstrates how water is an essential part of their lives or in what they see around them. Participants are invited to use their imaginations in seeing not just scenes of water for the photos, but scenes that may include everything water affects. The Water Authority will confirm the photo submission with the photographer and post it to its Instagram account (@sdcwa) for all the Water Authority’s followers to see and vote for with Instagram “likes.”
“Coming off a wet winter that broke a multi-year drought, it’s important to remember the value of water and the ways we’ve learned to become more efficient with this most precious resource,” said Mark Muir, chair of the Water Authority’s Board of Directors. “This contest give people a fun opportunity, through pictures, to share their stories of how water’s important to them and how they’ve learned to make the most of every drop.”
The first 20 participants will each receive two tickets to the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. The contest will also feature two grand prizes. The first will be awarded to the photographer whose photo receives the most Instagram votes. Participants are encouraged to have their family and friends follow the Water Authority’s Instagram account and vote to increase their chances of winning. The second grand prize will be awarded by the Water Authority based on originality, composition and how well the photo connects to the contest theme. The grand prize for the photo that wins the Instagram vote includes a one-night stay for two at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, while the second grand prize winner will receive four tickets to SeaWorld San Diego.
The Water Authority will also award prizes to two runners up, using the same criteria based on originality, composition, and contest theme. These prize packages include a set of four Explorer One-Day Passes to Balboa Park and three gift certificates to The Cravory cookie company, which has locations in Carlsbad and Point Loma.
Each of the grand prize winners and runners up will also receive four tickets to the 2017 San Diego County Fair. All prizes were generously donated by local businesses and organizations, including the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, Balboa Park Cultural Partnership, SeaWorld San Diego and The Cravory.
Submissions must include the first and last name of the photographer, the photographer’s age and full address, the date and location of the photo, and a description of how the image demonstrates water as an essential part of the photographer’s life. The description should not exceed 140 characters. Contest participants must be at least 18 years of age. For other contest rules and more information, go to www.sdcwa.org/live-watersmart-photo-contest.
Photos can be submitted up to 5 p.m. May 31. Winners will be announced the week of June 5. For more information about how residents and businesses increase their water-use efficiency rain or shine, go to WaterSmartSD.org.