Education

News coverage and analysis of current developments in water education at all levels, including emerging trends in learning, and notable efforts by education and industry professionals.

The Water Authority’s WaterSmart spring Landscape Makeover Program classes are now open for registration. free landscape makeover classes

Register Now For Free Spring WaterSmart Landscape Classes

Following a winter with generous rainfall, this spring is an ideal time for San Diego County residents to turn their water-thirsty landscaping into a beautiful, sustainable landscape ideal for the region’s Mediterranean climate. The Water Authority’s WaterSmart Landscape Makeover Program’s classes are open for registration. The free WaterSmart landscaping classes offer several choices designed to […]

EPA WaterSense-Excellence Award-QWEL-water conservation

Women in Water Conference Speakers List Announced

The speakers list for the 2024 Women in Water Symposium, “Empowering The Next Generation of Women,” is now set. The event returns for its seventh year with a full-day event on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at Cuyamaca College. Registration remains open. Panelists representing a wide variety of disciplines at all levels will discuss career opportunities […]

Board members Mark Gracyk and Joel Scalzitti, Board Vice President Don McMillan, Lily Martinez, and Board President Kathleen Coates Hedberg. Scholarship programs throughout San Diego County and California for 2024 are now open. Photo: Helix Water District 2024 scholarhip applications

2024 Scholarship Applications Open for Aspiring Water Professionals 

Water agencies across San Diego County and California water associations offer multiple college scholarship opportunities in 2024 to help candidates secure their education as water and wastewater professionals. The acceleration of industry retirements, as well as the increasing need for a skilled workforce trained to implement new technologies, result in an increased effort to develop […]

Six San DIego County students will have their artwork featured in the annual "Water Is Life" calendar for 2024.

San Diego County Student Artwork Featured in 2024 Calendar

Six San Diego County student artists from four member water agencies are among the 37 Southern California students whose artwork will appear in the 2024 “Being Water Wise Is… ” Student Art Calendar. The “Being Water Wise Is… ” Student Art Calendar is produced annually by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. It showcases […]

Scholarships were issued to local students by the Vallecitos Water District to help them continue their higher education. (L to R): Board Vice President Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson, scholarship winners Phlavia Oyrem, Caitlyn Hansen, and Julianna Stipica-Kelecic, Board President Jim Hernandez, scholarship winners Daniel Baza, Evan Fox, and Board Member Erik A. Groset. Not pictured: Board Members Craig Elitharp and Jim Pennock, scholarship winner Brook Sannella. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

Students Recognized For Conservation Art, Scholarship Excellence by Vallecitos Water District

The Vallecitos Water District Board of Directors recognized students from district area schools for their excellence in the classroom in two separate contests: poster art for fourth graders and an essay competition for scholarships. Students who compete for a scholarship must complete an essay and provide a personal statement related to their background and/or goals. […]

The San Diego County Water Authority’s award-winning Citizens Water Academy kicked off its first class since 2020. Participants are at the top of Olivenhain Dam. Photo: San Diego County Water Authority

Citizens Water Academy Returns for Summer 2023

On June 27, the San Diego County Water Authority kicked off its first Citizens Water Academy since 2020, when COVID-19 forced a shutdown of the program. The academy offers attendees the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the Water Authority’s life-sustaining mission. Participants learn firsthand about critical water issues affecting the region and go […]

Seventh grader Sophia Garvida won the Middle School Category in the 2023 Otay Water District Student Poster Contest. Photo: Otay Water District Six student artists

Six Student Artists Win 2023 Otay Poster Contest

Six students from schools in the Otay Water District are the winners of the annual Student Poster Contest. More than 53 students submitted entries from schools in Chula Vista, El Cajon, and Spring Valley. The poster art depicts the value of water and using water wisely. Students in all grades were asked to create and […]

"Pond" is the Youth category winner by Lauren Berg. This category is for photographers 15 years old and younger. Photo: Olivenhain Municipal Water District

Photographers Honored For Winning Images of Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve

Images from seven photographers were selected as the winners of the 16th annual Elfin Forest Recreational Reserve photo contest. The winning photos were recognized at the June 21 Olivenhain Municipal Water District board meeting. The contest offers amateur photographers an opportunity to connect viewers with wildlife and the outdoors. Submissions support the reserve’s efforts to […]

Winning artists in the 2023 Escondido Student Poster Art Contest. Front Row L-R: Annabella Trecha, Aysha Navarrete, Wyatt Hada, Avery Smith, Lincoln Steele, Belen Rios Perez, Avery Salazar, Amelia Scroggy. Back Row L-R: Aria Manoocheri, Andrea Garcia, Cassie Goodwin, Isaac Holsclaw. Photo: City of Escondido

Water Awareness Artwork Wins Escondido 2023 Student Poster Contest

Twelve students have won the 2023 City of Escondido Student Poster Contest by illustrating the theme, “Love Water, Save Water.” Winners have the opportunity to have their work featured in a regional North San Diego County water agencies calendar. First, second, and third-place winners will be featured in next year’s regional calendar. Fourth-grade students in […]

Fourth grade student Amara Drosi is one of ten winners in the 2023 Sweetwater Authority Student Poster Contest. Photo: Sweetwater Authority

Student Artists Show Water Conservation Through Winning Art

The Sweetwater Authority selected 10 elementary school students as the winners of its  “Being Water Wise Is…” 2023 Student Art Poster Contest. The annual contest is open to kindergarten through sixth-grade students in the Authority’s service area. The contest encourages students to think about the importance of water in their everyday lives, and how they […]

Helix Water District scholarship winners in 2023 Lily Martinez and Stephen Abkin. Photo: Helix Water District 2024 college scholarships

Outstanding Students Receive Helix Water District College Scholarships

Valhalla High School senior Lily Martinez and Grossmont High School senior Stephen Abkin are the 2023 recipients of the Helix Water District’s Robert D. Friedgen and Dr. Lillian M. Childs college scholarships. Martinez and Abkin were presented with their $1,000 scholarships at the May Board of Directors meeting. Lily Martinez Lily Martinez will attend UC […]

Two student artists representing the Otay Water District are among the 37 Southern California students whose artwork will appear in the 2023 “Water Is Life” Student Art Calendar. Photo: MWD student artwork

Otay Water District Calls On Student Artists for Contest Entries

The Otay Water District calls on student artists in its service area to unleash their creativity in its annual Student Poster Contest. All students in district schools from kindergarten to 12th grade are invited to illustrate a new theme for the 2023 contest – “Being water wise is …” Otay Water District’s annual educational program […]

Winning students in the 2023 Helix Poster Contest were honored at the May Board of Directors meeting. Photo: Helix Water District student

Helix Water District Student Poster Contest Winners Highlight What “Being Water Wise Is”

Ten talented student artists were honored for their winning work in the annual student poster contest at the May 17 Helix Water District board meeting. The students created their winning posters to visually depict the theme “Being Water Wise Is.” The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California holds the regional poster contest to increase student […]

Vista Irrigation District scholarship winners (left to right): Monica Lozada, Naia Riggenbach, Sarai Rojas, Samantha Harris, Colin Gastauer. (Not pictured: Riley Robbins) Photo: Vista Irrigation District. 2024 scholarship

Six Students Awarded Scholarships by Vista Irrigation District

Vista Irrigation District has awarded college scholarships to six high school seniors and selected three fourth-grade students as winners of two separate district‑sponsored contests. The annual contest is open to high school seniors living or attending school within the Vista Irrigation District service area. The content is intended to increase the knowledge and awareness of […]

A student at the science fair showcases her project board. Innovation-technology

Students Showcase Innovation in Water Technology

Middle and high school students from San Diego and Imperial counties showcased their creativity and innovation in water technology at the Greater San Diego Science and Engineering Fair. Winning students at the March event presented multi-faceted water technology designed for use in agriculture, water conservation, safety and treatment, creating solutions to some of the San […]