By Staff Reports

The Santa Clara Valley Water District is now accepting video and poster entries for its youth media contest until May 12. This contest is a way to create and increase awareness among Santa Clara County youth to contribute to water-saving efforts and to help respond to the severe drought California is facing.

Video-Poster-contest-imageAs the weather warms during the summer months, it will be critical to get the word out about using water wisely. It is important that everyone reduce their water use not only to get us through this year, but also to better prepare us for next year in case the drought continues.

The contest is part of a larger public information and education campaign by the water district to help increase awareness about the severity of the drought while educating the public on easy ways to save water. According to national studies, Americans use twice as much water as they think they do.

Entries should focus on water conservation tips and show easy ways to save water in response to the California drought. One of the goals is to get the younger generation to think about sustainability of water and to help them adopt and promote a water-efficient lifestyle.

Contest entrants must be residents of Santa Clara County and can compete in two categories – video and/or poster. Each category has two age groups – between 14 and 18 and 19 to 24. Entries may be a team or individual effort.

Contestants are encouraged to create new and original graphics, visual elements, or concepts to convey the contest theme, as long as the message tips are gathered from thesave20gallons.orgsite.

All entries may be submitted with a completed entry form until midnight May 12, 2014. The contest entry form, complete contest rules and criteria are available online at www.valleywater.org/youthcontest.

The winners will be recognized at a special awards ceremony in late May at the water district headquarters. First prize winners will receive a cash prize of $250 in each category for each age group. Runners-up will receive other valuable prizes. Prizes sponsored by New America Media and other local retail sponsors.