The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary is now accepting entries on behalf of the Philadelphia Water Department for the 2008 “Clean Water Begins and Ends With You” Drawing Contest, an annual art competition for kindergarten through 12th-grade students throughout the City of Philadelphia.

Deadline for entries is February 22.

For the past nine years, the nonprofit National Estuary Program has partnered with the Philadelphia Water Department to hold this popular contest, the purpose of which is to educate thousands of children every year about stormwater runoff pollution, the leading cause of water contamination throughout the Delaware Estuary.

First-place drawings from four age categories will be featured on car-card advertisements celebrating the 38th anniversary of Earth Day. These, along with 12 other award-winning entries, will be published in a calendar available for free to the public. Other prizes to be awarded at a ceremony in April include framed certificates, a variety of art supplies, and gift cards ranging from $25 to $100.

“Each year we honor the winners and their teachers at the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center,” said Ed Grusheski, general manager of public affairs at the PWD. “It’s a great setting in which to reward these youngsters for their artistic achievements in an effort to educate the public about protecting the region’s valuable water resources.”

The first school to submit 100 qualified entries or more by the February 22 deadline will receive a $500 gift card for school supplies. And each teacher of a winning student will receive a $25 gift card toward the purchase of art supplies.

Stormwater runoff occurs whenever water from rain or melted snow flows over watertight surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks, and streets. Rather than naturally soaking into the ground, this stormwater picks up debris, chemicals, and other pollutants on its way into storm drains. It is then frequently discharged directly into the water bodies we use for swimming, fishing, drinking water and more.

To learn more about this form of non-point source pollution and the “Clean Water Begins and Ends With You” Drawing Contest, please call Dee Ross at 800-445-4935, extension 106 or visit the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary website.

1/11/2008