Features Archives

Large scale landscape makeover projects like this one by the Jamacha Park HOA may be eligible for increased landscape rebates. Photo: Otay Water District

Increased Rebates in 2024 for Large-Scale Landscape Makeover Projects

July 3, 2024/in Features, WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

San Diego County businesses and public agencies looking to replace ornamental grass with more sustainable landscaping are now eligible for increased rebates from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Metropolitan has added one dollar to its Turf Replacement Program base incentive to $3 per square foot for commercial, industrial and institutional sectors and $4 for public agencies that swap out non-functional grass with California Friendly® and native landscaping.

Funding for the program is provided by a $30 million grant from the California Department of Water Resources.

Landscape makeovers can still be lush and colorful while conserving water.

“We’ve made huge gains in water-use efficiency in Southern California, and businesses and public agencies have the opportunity to help us further that progress,” said Metropolitan Interim General Manager Deven Upadhyay.

“By switching to landscaping that is both beautiful and sustainable, they can help our region better adapt to our changing climate while cutting costs and demonstrating leadership in sustainability in their communities.”

The rebate also helps businesses and municipalities comply with new state legislation taking effect in 2027. Assembly Bill 1572 phases out the use of potable water to irrigate non-functional grass that is not used for recreation or other purposes.

“It’s a great opportunity to reduce the cost to eliminate non-functional turf before the state’s watering ban (AB1572) takes effect,” said Debby Dunn, senior water resources specialist at the San Diego County Water Authority.

For assistance, contact or 858-522-6745.

Additional help for San Diego County projects

SLIDER The Panorama HOA in Lake San Marcos achieved beautiful results from its landscaping makeover project, which will conserve water and preserve the region's watershed. Photo: Vallecitos Water District landscape rebates

The Panorama HOA in Lake San Marcos achieved beautiful results from its landscaping makeover project, which will conserve water and preserve the region’s watershed. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Projects in the unincorporated areas of San Diego County can receive an addition $1 per square foot for their turf removal projects

In an effort to help expand our region’s tree canopy and promote sustainability, a newly launched rebate provides an additional $100 per tree incorporated into projects. Both commercial and residential participants can receive this rebate for up to five trees per project.

Long-term water savings from conservation programs

WaterSmart Irrigation-Rebates-Water Efficiency

Rebates are available to help property owners in unincorporated areas reduce expenses, providing significant savings on outdoor landscapes.

Metropolitan’s Turf Replacement Program has directly resulted in the removal of over 220 million square feet of grass. This saves enough water to serve about 68,000 households each year.

Conservation programs play an important role in the region’s water supply reliability. Today, about 2.5 million acre-feet of the record 3.4 million acre-feet Metropolitan holds in regional storage is water that has been conserved and stored instead of being consumed. That conserved water has been instrumental in staving off additional and more widespread calls for mandatory water cutbacks.

“We know the challenges ahead will require us to think differently and make the right investments in our infrastructure and water supplies,” said Metropolitan board chair Adán Ortega, Jr. “We appreciate the tremendous work the public has done to help us become more resilient to our extreme weather patterns and look forward to the continued progress that we can achieve as a region.”

For more information on Metropolitan’s conservation initiatives and rebate programs and to apply for a commercial, industrial, institutional or public agency rebate, visit bewaterwise.com/turf.

L to R: Keith Hobson Vice President, Water Environment Federation (WEF), FOX Strand; Ruby Dela Cruz; and Chuck Greely, CWEA past president, Dudek. Photo: CWEA awards

Water Professionals Honored at 95th CWEA Awards

July 1, 2024/in Achievements /by Gayle Falkenthal

Ruby Dela Cruz from the City of San Diego and Raul Villalpando from the City of Escondido were two of eight individuals honored at the 95th Annual California Water Environment Association (CWEA) Awards.

Both have served their city for the past 23 years, and their awards recognize their contributions to enhancing California’s water environment.

Ruby Dela Cruz Named Electrical Instrument Person of the Year

Dela Cruz received the “Electrical Instrumentation Person of the Year” award, celebrating her achievements as the city’s Instrumentation and Control Supervisor.

Dela Cruz is responsible for supervising, training, and participating in the maintenance of the control systems and instrumentation of the North City Pure Water Facility, Pure Water Pump Station, and Dechlorination Facility.

As a supervisor, she appreciates being challenged in her role while simultaneously passing on her expertise to others.

“I enjoy troubleshooting electrical and electronic circuits because it sharpens my analytical thinking,” said Dela Cruz. “[And] I like imparting my knowledge and sharing my technical experience to my subordinates to help them achieve their aspirations and goals in their career.”

Yet, after over two decades of working for the City of San Diego, she acknowledges the people are what make the job.

“Everyone is treated as family,” said Dela Cruz. “Just like a family, nobody is perfect, but everyone is there for you when you need them. My superiors never fail to acknowledge my accomplishments and contributions to the group.”

Raul Villalpando Named Operator of the Year

City of Escondido winner Raul Villalpondo (center) with (L to R) Keith Hobson, Vice President, Water Environment Federation (WEF), FOX Strand; Victor Corrales, City of Escondido; Wastewater Operations Manager; Villalpondo; Kyle Morgan, City of Escondido Assistant Director of Utilities Wastewater; and Chuck Greely, CWEA past president, Dudek. Photo: CWEA

Similar to Dela Cruz, Raul Villalpando values the opportunity to pass along his knowledge and expertise to his newer colleagues. This attribute led his supervisors to push for his “Operator of the Year” award.

“He’s really been the main guy that’s been kind of passing along his knowledge, not just of wastewater, but of the plant itself,” said Victor Corrales, wastewater operations manager for the City of Escondido. “He’s setting an example to those newer operators of the value of staying at a place, watching and helping it grow.”

As a senior wastewater operator, Villalpando is one of four lead operators in charge of overseeing the City of Escondido’s wastewater plant. Every day, he works alongside electricians, mechanics, and other plant operators to ensure business runs smoothly. While he wears many hats around the plant, he considers this award a group effort.

“This award that I was lucky enough to win as an individual is for everyone on this team,” said Villalpando. “I oversee all those people, but those people worked hand-in-hand with me to win that. To be able to find a good core group of people to work with is the hardest and best thing to find, and I’m lucky to say I’ve found that.”

CWEA Awards Recognize Exemplary Efforts

Founded in 1927, the CWEA is a not-for-profit association of 9,000-plus professionals in the wastewater industry. The association trains and certifies wastewater professionals, disseminates technical information and promotes sound policies to benefit society through protection and enhancement of the water environment.

For the past 95 years, the CWEA awards program has honored exemplary efforts of individuals and agencies throughout the state who are leaders in engineering, wastewater operations, collection systems, laboratory work, and pretreatment programs.

For more information about the California Water Environment Awards, visit awards.cwea.org

The Fairways HOA landscape makeover in Lake San Marcos retains some turf mixed with low-water use plants for substantial water savings. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Turf Rebate Program Offering More Money for Less Grass

July 1, 2024/in WaterSmart Living /by Jordan Beane

For residents across the region thinking about turning their front yards into sustainable, WaterSmart landscapes, now’s a great time to act. If you’re looking to get ahead of AB 1572, a law passed last year that bans the irrigation of ornamental turf with potable water starting in 2027, the opportunity to get rid of your grass is too good to pass up right now.

That’s thanks to a grant program through the California Department of Water Resources, which updated its rebate rates for commercial and residential turf removal. That includes an increase from $2 per square foot to $3 per square foot. Properties in the unincorporated area of San Diego are eligible to receive an additional $1 per square foot funded by the County’s Waterscape Rebate Program.

The HOA was able to remove 2,746 square feet of turf surrounding the clubhouse and tennis court areas. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Grass must be living until the application is approved. That means no dead lawns, dirt landscapes, or projects already in progress. Additionally synthetic turf grass is not allowed to be installed through this program.

Applicants must plant a minimum of three plants or one tree per 100 square feet and those trees must be 15 gallons or larger. For those individuals looking to plant more, a $100 tree rebate is also available for up to 5 trees per project when requested as part of a turf rebate application. For additional information about this exciting rebate program, please visit SoCalWaterSmart.com.

To help select the right climate appropriate plants for your new landscape, check out San Diego County Water Authority’s updated Nifty 50 plant list.

Catherine and Bryan Binotti replaced the outdated and drab landscape of their charming and recently-historically-designated 1950 house in the Brier Patch neighborhood of La Mesa. Photo: Helix Water District landscape contest

Grossmont Home Wins Helix Water District 2024 Landscape Contest

June 23, 2024/in WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

Catherine and Bryan Binotti’s transformation of the front yard of their historic La Mesa home to a lush, water-efficient landscape was selected as the winner of the Helix Water District 2024 Water-Smart Landscape Contest.

The annual competition recognizes residents for their outstanding water-efficient landscapes based on overall attractiveness, design, efficient irrigation, appropriate plant selection and maintenance.

After years of work, the Binottis have created a lush waterwise landscape and a vibrant ecosystem. Photo: Helix Water District

The Binottis replaced the outdated and drab landscape of their charming and recently historically designated 1950 house in the Brier Patch neighborhood of La Mesa. The new front yard is a colorful paradise boasting beauty and curb appeal. “What better way to meet the neighbors, than gardening in the front yard! What started as a conservation effort – of time, water, and financial resources – has turned into such a joy,” said Catherine.

Plant Mix Compliments Home Design

The plant mix compliments the home design and color scheme. Photo: Helix Water District

The garden is set back behind hedges and fruit trees with a lush mix of flowering plants and greens that complement the colors of their home and the taller surrounding plants. Catherine is employed as a hospital laboratory scientist. Gardening is her creative outlet to balance her analytical side.

The Binottis entered their previous home in the 2020 landscape contest. The same year, they moved nearby into their current home and wanted more from their landscape.

The design includes drifts and groupings of color. Photo: Helix Water District

Catherine designed the garden herself. It incorporates drifts, harmonious groupings of the same plants, to create cohesive sections of color. By layering these drifts, she adds depth and creates a relaxed feel. She strategically placed specimen plants to create focal points and used taller plants to screen out less appealing views.

Catherine drew inspiration from landscapes she saw on Pinterest, walking in her neighborhood, and exploring nurseries. “In spring when everything is flowering, I’ll walk through all the neighborhoods to figure out what plants grow well and try to mimic what I like about other yards and try to mix it into what I want in my yard.”

Bright Colors Inspire Plant Choices

Bursts of floral color highlight the landscaping. Photo: Helix Water District

Her preferred plant choices feature yellow, pink, purple, and orange flowers. “Initially, I’d walk around nurseries and take lots of photos,” explained Catherine. “I’d often get asked for help a lot because I’d just be wandering and taking lots of pictures. Then come back home and look at them all.”

Plants featured in the landscape include Rockrose, Foxtail Agave, Purple Leaf Plum Tree, Peruvian Lily, Mexican Feather Grass, Gold Coin Daisy, Santa Barbara Daisy, Gold Strike Protea, Pink Muhly Grass, Grevillea Coastal Gem, Pride of Madeira, and Yarrow.

Efficient Irrigation Updates

The Binottis say the waterwise landscape was a logical choice for them and ‘a wonderful source of joy.’ Photo: Helix Water District

The Binottis removed the outdated irrigation system. They retrofitted fruit trees with pressure-compensating drip irrigation and installed new drip lines for everything else. Additionally, downspouts direct rainwater into the front planter. The couple has plans for more rainwater collection.

After years of work, the couple has created a lush waterwise landscape and a vibrant ecosystem. “The yard is always alive with bees, butterflies, lizards, birds, and an occasional coyote,” said Catherine. “A waterwise landscape is the logical choice for us and a wonderful source of joy for us and others. We love the color and contrasts spring brings to the charm of our recently designated historic 1950s La Mesa home.”

The landscape contest runs from January through mid-May each year. Visit Helix’s website at hwd.com, Facebook.com/HelixWater or X at @HelixWater for more information.

Homeowner Rick Whitney's landscape makeover was named the 2024 Landscape Contest winner by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Award-Winning Landscape Design Features Rainwater Capture

June 21, 2024/in WaterSmart Living /by Gayle Falkenthal

Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors honored Rick Whitney as the 2024 WaterSmart Landscape design contest winner.

The winning design includes a seating area to let visitors sit and enjoy the space. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Water agencies throughout the county participate in an annual contest to encourage landscape transformations that reduce outdoor water use, are attractive, and often require less maintenance than turf-heavy landscapes. Each agency selects a winner within its service area that exhibits climate-appropriate plant selection, water-efficient irrigation, and appealing design.

Rainwater Capture Reduces Runoff

Dry riverbeds are attractive as well as functional, capturing rainwater runoff. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

“Using water efficiently outdoors will always be important in Southern California, and replacing a lawn with a water-wise landscape can significantly reduce water bills,” said OMWD Vice President Matthew Hahn. “Mr. Whitney’s California-friendly alternative to grass provides an attractive example of a sustainable, water-wise landscape.”

Mr. Whitney’s water-efficient landscape uses rainwater capture in its design. Rainwater from the roof collects in a rock riverbed, keeping it on the property and reducing runoff that can carry pollutants to waterways and beaches. An in-line drip system irrigates all other areas of the landscape.

Beautiful New Yard Yields Water Savings

A closer look at the dry riverbed and plant selection. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

“We decided to install a water-conserving landscape because of the severe drought California has experienced over the last decade,” said Mr. Whitney. “We are glad we did, as our water usage is down now, and our front yard looks beautiful.”

The San Diego County Water Authority offers free WaterSmart landscaping classes with several choices designed to give you the skills and knowledge to create a landscape that saves water and will thrive in our region.

Local landscape design professionals teach workshops using a do-it-yourself approach. They cover landscape design and maintenance, soil identification and health, turf types and removal tips, plant selection, rainwater catchment, irrigation retrofits, and project installation.

For more information and to register, visit sdcwa.org/your-water/conservation/classes

OMWD Board Honors Winners of Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve Photo Contest

June 20, 2024/in Achievements /by Gayle Falkenthal

Four photographers were recognized by the Olivenhain Municipal Water District’s Board of Directors for their winning images in its 17th annual Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve photo contest.

The winning photos feature the natural beauty of the 784-acre reserve near Escondido.

“We are grateful for the stunning contest photos received this year. Countless individuals will see the views offered by our 11 miles of trails,” said OMWD Board Director Marco San Antonio.

OMWD received over 200 entries submitted in five categories: Scenic View, Water Scenery, Plants, Animals, and Youth (age 15 and under). The contest was open to photographers of all ages.

Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve Facebook followers selected a People’s Choice award winner by voting for their favorite of 19 entries posted online.

This year’s Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve photo contest winners

“Warbler with Bee” by Keith Kelley – Best in Show Category. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

“Leaf Race” by Keith Kelley – Water Scenery Category. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

“Quack” by Keith Kelley – Winner, Animals Category. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

“Mushroom :)” by Adrian Flores – Winner, Plants Category. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

“Overlooked Elegance” by Ray Santiago – Winner, Youth Category. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

“Winter color palette on the creek” by Sylvia Gaffney – Winner, Scenic View Category. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

“Serenity by the Creek” by Sylvia Gaffney – Winner, People’s Choice Category. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

San Diego Zoo, California Wolf Center, and EcoVivarium Reptile Sanctuary donated tickets as prizes. Prizes also included a canvas print donated by PC Photo & Imaging, outdoor equipment donated by REI, and a cash prize donated by the Escondido Creek Conservancy.

Beginning in July 2024, Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve visitors can view winning photographs at the Elfin Forest Interpretive Center Honoring Susan J. Varty.

The Interpretive Center is open daily, subject to docent availability. Current hours of operation can be obtained by calling 760-632-4212.

Padre Dam Municipal Water District Board President Bill Pommering with winners of the District's 2024 Student Poster Contest. Photo: Padre Dam MWD

Padre Dam Honors Winners of the 2024 Student Poster Contest

June 17, 2024/in Education /by Gayle Falkenthal

Elementary school students in Padre Dam Municipal Water District schools are making a splash and being recognized for their artwork, which highlights the importance of being water-wise.

Padre Dam’s Board of Directors announced the winners of the District’s “Being Water Wise Is…” Student Poster Contest during its June board meeting.

Thirteen kindergarten through fifth-grade students from Alpine, El Cajon, and Santee schools took top spots for their creativity and eye-catching artwork. Students, their teachers, family, and friends viewed their artwork on display at Padre Dam’s August A. Caires Customer Service Center.

During the Board meeting, the students were individually recognized, and each received a certificate and an art kit.

Padre Dam Student Poster Contest Winners for 2024

Alias Brias, Hill Creek School, Santee, fifth grade

Alison Ambriz, Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Alpine, third grade

Anthony Avila Medina, Pepper Drive School, El Cajon, kindergarten

Ava Turnwall, Cajon Park School, Santee, fifth grade

Bruce Dowding, Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Alpine, second grade

Elena Zeitsen, Carlton Oaks School, Santee, fourth grade

Emma Wachter, Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Alpine, first grade

Kenziee Bowen, Carlton Oaks School, Santee, fourth grade

Sayuri Sarmiento, Sycamore Canyon School, Santee, fourth grade

Shy’Lynn Verissimo, Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Alpine, first grade

Tegan Heckeroth, Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Alpine, fourth grade

Zoey Miller, Hill Creek School, Santee, third grade

Alex, Boulder Oaks Elementary School, Alpine, fifth grade

“We are excited to celebrate these talented students and their artwork,” said Bill Pommering, Padre Dam board president. “This annual contest demonstrates a commitment to water use efficiency and reminds us of the important ways we can protect this precious resource.”

Winners Shed Light on Efficient Water Use

The 13 winning pieces of art were selected from over 400 entries. Each hand-drawn poster was created around the theme “Being Water Wise Is…” The students’ artwork shed light on wise and efficient water use at home, school, and throughout the community.

Boulder Oaks Elementary School in Alpine was recognized as this year’s top submitting school. The school will receive a sponsored Splash Mobile Science Lab during the upcoming academic year.

Selected artwork will advance to a regional art contest held by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. Winning entries from Metropolitan’s 26 member agencies will be featured in its 2025 calendar. This calendar is expected to be distributed to about 13,000 recipients.

L to R: Helix WD director Mark Gracyk, director and scholarship committee chairperson Andrea Beth Damsky, scholarship winners Layth Polus and Paige Newlon, vice president Joel A. Scalzitti, board president Dan McMillan, and director Kathleen Coates Hedberg. Photo: Helix Water District

Exceptional Students Win College Scholarships from Helix Water District

June 6, 2024/in Education, Features /by Gayle Falkenthal

The Helix Water District selected two East County students as recipients of $1,000 college scholarships for 2024. The students were recognized at the May Board of Directors meeting.

Paige Newlon Receives Friedgen Scholarship

Paige Newlon of El Cajon is the 2024 recipient of Helix Water District’s Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship. Newlon poses with Director and Scholarship Committee Chair Andrea Beth Damsky and Board President Dan McMillan. Photo: Helix Water District

Paige Newlon received the Robert D. Friedgen Scholarship. It was established upon Friedgen’s retirement in 1998, after serving as Helix’s general manager for 19 years. Friedgen provided the seed money, and the board and others contributed additional funding.

Newlon graduated from The Academy of Our Lady of Peace. Newlon will attend Loyola Marymount University next fall and plans to major in chemistry and political science to effectively navigate and lead in both science and policymaking.

Newlon played volleyball on the Academy’s varsity and beach volleyball teams, and with a club team. Her team won the San Diego Section, Division 2 champions in 2023, a first for The Academy of Our Lady of Peace, and Newlon was named to the San Diego City Conference All-Academic Team.

Newlon was co-president of the Academy’s academic league, organizing student teams to compete with
other schools, and was also on the speech and debate team. Newlon wrote for the Pilot Post school
newspaper, performed in the Academy’s Spring Sing musicals, and is an ambassador to prospective
students and their families.

Layth Polus Receives Childs Scholarship

Layth Polus of Spring Valley is the 2024 recipient of Helix Water District’s Dr. Lillian M. Childs Scholarship. Polus poses with Director and Scholarship Committee Chair Andrea Beth Damsky and Board President Dan McMillan. Photo: Helix Water District

Layth Polus received the Dr. Lillian M. Childs Scholarship. The Helix board established it in 1999 to honor Childs upon her retirement from the board and recognize the 20 years of service and leadership she had given to the district.

Polus graduated from Valhalla High School. Polus will attend UC San Diego next fall and plans to major in human biology. He plans to attend dental school and become an orthodontist.

Polus founded and served as president of the Medical Pathway Club at Valhalla High School for students interested in medical careers. He also organized Healthcare Town, an event that brought 60 club members to Vista Grande Elementary School to teach third-grade students about personal health.

Polus volunteered over 400 hours at Sharp Grossmont Hospital as a nurse’s aide and in other roles and
over 200 hours at the Red Cross, helping with blood drives, food drives, and the nonprofit’s Volunteer
Connect software application. He participated in Valhalla’s academic league as a Junior Ambassador
to help other students engage with their community on Norse Crew, which welcomes and assists
Valhalla’s newest students, and in Toastmasters.

Both Newlon and Polus also have part-time jobs.

Helix Annual College Scholarship Supports District Students

The Helix Water District contacts high school counselors in the fall to inform students about the annual scholarship contest. Applicants must live in the district’s service area, have excellent academic standing, and excel in community service and extracurricular activities. Applicants submit an essay about the East County Advanced Water Purification Project and provide a personal goals statement with two letters of recommendation.

Winning artwork in the Helix 2024 Student Poster contest. Left: Ranya Boubetana, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 7. Right: Arya French, Flying Hills School of the Arts, Grade 4.

Helix Water District 2024 Student Poster Contest Winners Illustrate “Being Water Wise Is”

June 6, 2024/in Education, Features /by Gayle Falkenthal

At the June Helix Water District board meeting, talented student artists were honored for their winning work in the 2024 Student Poster Contest. The students created winning posters to depict the theme “Being Water Wise Is visually.”

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California holds the regional poster contest to increase student awareness about water. Kindergarten through eighth-grade students in local district schools are eligible to compete. This year, 174 students from 19 schools within the Helix Water District Service area submitted posters depicting how to use water wisely.

The following students took top honors:

2024 Student Poster Contest: Grades K – 4 Category

First Place – Arya French, Flying Hills School of the Arts, Grade 4

Second Place – Peyton Terrell, Christ Lutheran School, Grade 3

Third Place – Audrey Pierce, Christ Lutheran School, Grade 3

Honorable Mention – Norma Ahmadi, Anza Elementary School, Grade 4

Honorable Mention – Kierra Juanes, Flying Hills School of the Arts, Grade 4

2024 Student Poster Contest: Grades 5 – 8 Category

First Place – Ranya Boubetana, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 7

Second Place – Catalina Raquel Jones, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 8

Third Place – Audrey Robinson, Art with Larisse Art School, Grade 8

Honorable Mention – Joaquin Saguaro Alcantar, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 7

Honorable Mention – Charlotte Chatham, La Mesa Arts Academy, Grade 8

This is the second year Catalina Raquel Jones and Audrey Robinson have been named poster contest winners.

All winning posters will be forwarded to the Metropolitan Water District to be considered for inclusion in its 2025 “Being Water Wise Is” calendar. All posters are displayed on the Helix Water District website and Facebook page.

Winning artists display their entries in the 2024 Escondido Student Poster Contest. Photo: City of Escondido

City of Escondido 2024 Student Poster Contest Winners Named

May 21, 2024/in Education /by Gayle Falkenthal

The City of Escondido’s Environmental Programs division announced the 2024 Water Awareness Calendar Contest winners at the May 15 City Council meeting. Twelve fourth-grade students enrolled in Escondido’s public and private elementary schools were honored by the City Council in front of their families, city staff, and teachers for the art they submitted to the annual contest.

The top 12 Poster Contest winners are currently displayed in the Escondido Library in the Children’s section and at the Escondido East Valley Community Center. Photo: City of Escondido

Winning images showcased each artist’s perspective on the calendar theme, “Love Water, Save Water.” Three student artists were chosen to represent Escondido Water in the North County Water Agencies 2025 calendar

The winning students and their artworks:

Winning artwork from Cora Edwards, “When You Take A Sip Of Water.” Photo: City of Escondido

Cora Edwards, Fourth Grade, Grace Christian School

Winning artwork from Salma DeLeon, “Be The Solution, Not The Pollution.” Photo: City of Escondido

Salma De Leon, Fourth Grade, Grace Christian School

Winning artwork from Aubrey Vuoti, “Don’t Be A Waster, Be A Saver.” Photo: City of Escondido

Aubrey Vuoti, Fourth Grade, Grace Christian School

One Hundred Students Participated In 2024 Student Poster Contest

The 12 winning students and their families were recognized at the May 15 City of Escondido Council meeting. Photo: City of Escondido

The Environmental Programs division received over 100 artwork submissions this year after City staff visited fourth-grade classrooms across Escondido this spring.

During classroom visits, City staff educates fourth graders on how Escondido’s Water Treatment facility operates, and the unique resources found within Escondido that provide local water to the treatment plant including Dixon Lake and Lake Wohlford. Students get the opportunity to experiment and design water filtration models to solidify how vital access to fresh and clean water is to this community.

Winning students and their teachers received prizes generously donated by local businesses. The top 12 Poster Contest winners are currently displayed in the Escondido Library in the Children’s section and at the Escondido East Valley Community Center. They will be featured on Escondido’s website starting in June.

To learn more about the City’s educational program specific to the environmental programs section, please visit https://www.escondido.gov/576/Education-Outreach or email .

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