Normal holds Water Report cover contest to engage and educate students

NORMAL, Ill. – The Town of Normal is holding a Water Report Cover Contest to help educate and engage local students about water usage. 

The contest is for students in grades 3-5. Participating students will create art relating to water and water facts, using information from the town’s annual quality water report. Students can submit their art to be used for the cover of the water quality report. 

Artwork will be judged on creativity, originality and relation to the theme. Town of Normal employees will choose the top designs and the community will vote on a winner through social media, beginning Feb. 19. The winner will also receive a gift card and their artwork framed. 

Required by the Environmental Protection Agency, Normal issues a water quality report every year. In past years, Normal has used photos of various scenes such as water towers or tanks. 

Normal Director of Water John Burkhart talked about the reasons for the contest, namely how the torn wants to engage the community in education about water through this cover contest. 

“We’ve just been trying to think of ways to get the community involved with various aspects of water this past year,” said Burkhart. 

The Town of Normal is a water ambassador for the Illinois Section American Water Works Association. This is another reason to get the community involved in water. 

Burkart said, “Really what that award is about is engaging with the public, keeping them informed about various aspects of water.” 

He also elaborated on how the town wishes it helps answer questions and other inquiries about water.

“It just goes to show that we’re trying to answer questions that the public has. We’re trying to make the public aware,” said Burkhart.