Local water agencies turn to students for drought help
Valley teens are getting creative with solutions to the drought in California.
Coachella Valley Water Counts is honoring the winners of its first annual student water conservation video contest.
Local water agencies asked the next generation for help in solving the drought crisis.
In its first ever video contest, CV Water Counts asked students from schools across the valley to create videos showing how everyone can do their part in conserving water.
Jena Alvarez and Emma Ortiz from John Glenn Middle School in Indio swept their category with their short video.
“I think it’s important for the cities in California to know that we need to start saving water because there’s not an infinite amount of water and we can start using a lot of it,” Ortiz said.
“Every citizen can do something to help in conserving water and if everyone does, then California will no longer be in a drought,” Alvarez said.
The Indio Water Authority said the key to enduring this drought is community participation.
“We’re entering the fourth year in our historic drought. What better population to get involved than our students. They’re the ones who will ultimately net these savings from the water conservation efforts in the coming days,” water conservation programs coordinator Scott Trujillo said.
Which is why school districts are taking it to the kids.
“We say it all the time, the children are our future. They’re the ones who are going to be impacted by the loss of water or any other problem that we’re facing. So to involve them now at this age is just one more fabulous way to get them to look at things,” Desert Sands Unified District PIO Mary Perry said.
Coachella Valley Water District said engaging future customers creates the long-term conservation ethic California needs.
Alvarez and Ortiz won annual family memberships to the Living Desert and will be recognized next month at their water agency board meeting.
Other video finalists include Angel Figueroa from Pathway Academy and Nancy Santos and Adrian Ayala from Palm Desert Charter Middle School.
