Boca youngsters learn importance of conserving water

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

Water – its importance, its value and its frequent scarcity – have been underscored in recent years.

Boca Raton’s Utility Service Department brought that point to students in kindergarten through grade 7 again this year as part of its annual “Drop Savers Poster Contest.”

The event was held in recognition of April as “Water Conservation Month” and the week of May 4-10 as “Drinking Water Month.”

The Utility Service Department, which operates the city’s water, wastewater and reclaimed water operations, sponsored the Water Conservation Poster Contest in local schools. 

The competition encouraged students to use water conservation ideas to create and design a t-shirt poster.

Utility Service Director Chris Helfrich said his department received more than 500 entries from seven local schools.  Each student participant was awarded a certificate of participation.

Four winning participants were chosen, and the posters they created were entered in the statewide competition.  Winners received a certificate and a $25 gift card.

Winners are:

K-1, Trenton Schallow, Boca Raton Christian School.

Grades 2-3, Max Gegoire, Verde Elementary School.

Grades 4-5, Gabriela Riveros, Verde Elementary School.

Grades 6-7, Alexa Fagien, St. Andrew’s School.

Helfrich also noted that Schallow has also been chosen as the third-place winner at the state level in the K-1 category.

Each of the more than 500 participants will have posters placed on display in the city’s 6500 Building at 6500 Congress Ave.  Gallery showings are scheduled for May 6-8 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Helfrich said he encourages all participants and the public to attend the 2008 Drop Savers Poster Contest showings. “Water conservation information and activities will be on hand,” he said, “a utility services department video will be shown and light refreshments will be served.”

The city recently approved a $41 million bond issue to make improvements to the water system. About half of that will be used to pay off a 2001 bond issue and the rest will be set aside for improvements to the water facility.

In the city’s own effort to conserve drinking water, Helfrich has embarked on a program of replacing potable water with reclaimed water for irrigation at golf courses, some home developments and at Lynn University, among other places. 

City Manager Leif Ahnell said he hopes that within five years, Boca Raton will be able to recycle all its wastewater.