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<\/a>\u201cSan Diegans Waste No Water\u201d is the official moniker for the campaign, and includes demonstrations, educational workshops, a children\u2019s poster contest and a film contest featuring short films on water conservation.<\/p>\n
Local student filmmakers joined Mayor Bob Filner, Council President Todd Gloria and Council President Pro Tem Sherri Lightner May 15 at the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park to screen the eight finalists in the film contest, followed by the announcement of this year\u2019s winning film. This is the contest\u2019s third year.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am especially pleased when such talent and imagination is put to use toward a cause as important as water conservation,\u201d Filner said in a press release. \u201cWith this year\u2019s exceptional field of entries, I can\u2019t wait to see what\u2019s playing next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
The annual film contest features work by high school and college students who submit a 20-second water conservation film, which is then reviewed by City staff and a panel of judges. This year\u2019s winning film was \u201cThe Hydrologist\u201d by San Diego State University student Michael J. Bowie.<\/p>\n
Bowie\u2019s film featured \u201cvivid cinematography\u201d contrasting black and white film with color \u201cto show the benefits rain barrels can bring to your garden,\u201d campaign representatives said in the release. Runners up were \u201cThe Cactus Brothers\u201d by Carlos Grijalva of Point Loma High School and \u201cCalvin the Cactus\u201d by Aaron Gomes, Alex Mouritzen and Alexis Meraz of Southwestern College.<\/p>\n
The film screenings were one day after the City Council honored winners of this year\u2019s Children\u2019s Water Conservation Poster Contest at a ceremony held during the May 14 council meeting. Nineteen children were celebrated for participating in the 13th annual poster contest, also organized by the Public Utilities Department.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am excited to once again participate in the City\u2019s annual Water Conservation Poster Contest, which gives students an opportunity to inspire all San Diegans to enjoy and protect our most valuable natural resource,\u201d Lightner said in a separate release. \u201cWhile doing something fun and creative, children can help us to remember \u2018San Diego Wastes No Water.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Winning posters will be on display at the San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery at Liberty Station from June 1 \u2013 30 and at the San Diego County Fair\u2019s Creative Youth Exhibit from June 8 \u2013 July 4.<\/p>\n \u201cWise water use is a habit that should be learned at a very young age,\u201d Filner said. \u201cNot only are all these kids incredibly creative, they understand the importance of treating water as one of California\u2019s most precious natural resources.\u201d<\/p>\n Gloria and the council have been busy with implementing other water-conscious initiatives as well, including the approval of the Water Purification Demonstration\u2019s final report earlier this month that would help implement indirect potable reuse in the City\u2019s water system.<\/p>\n \u201cThe council has been pursuing [this] for years now, but I think we are doubling down on this approach,\u201d Gloria previously said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to do as much as we can locally, weather that\u2019s through conservation, graywater systems [or] indirect potable reuse.\u201d<\/p>\n San Diego\u2019s Water Awareness Month continues with several educational events, including water conservation clinics at Lowe\u2019s in Mission Valley and Home Depot on Fairmont Avenue Saturday, May 25 at 10 a.m. Additionally, the Mission Hills Branch Library is hosting a children\u2019s water conservation story time Friday, May 31 at 10:30 a.m., and Viewer\u2019s Choice Award votes for the film contest are being accepted through May 31.<\/p>\n \u201cImagine the impact we can have on our water supply when we understand where it goes, how it is purified [and] how we can do our part to save water,\u201d Filner said. \u201cLet\u2019s all work together to do our part to be responsible consumers.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/a>