Water is life Art Contest

Each year, Western Water invites students in grades K–12 to showcase their creativity through the Water is Life Art Contest. The contest provides an artistic avenue for students to express their understanding of efficient water use and how to use water wisely.

Contest Details & Timeline

The 2025-26 contest theme is: “Being water wise is…”

Students are encouraged to create artwork that reflects how individuals and the community can use water efficiently in their homes, at school, in businesses, for agriculture, and across their communities.

  • Contest opens: August 18, 2025
  • Submission deadline: January 5, 2026
  • Western Water's recognition event: April 2026

Note: To request art paper or schedule artwork pick-up, email Western Water's Education team.

Three winners from each grade category will be selected (K-5, 6-8, 9-12). Winners will receive an Amazon gift card:

First place: $100
Second place: $75
Third place: $50

Blue rectangular button stating to click it to enter the art contest.

2024-25 Winners

  1. 1 Water Saving Superheroes
  2. 2 Water drop surrounded by dry landscape
  3. 3 Winking Earth over water and fish promoting being water wise
  4. 4 Broken water faucet in the desert with people struggling for water
  5. 5 Hose with water depicting nature and its benefits, water is life be water wise
  6. 6 Butterfly on a flower surrounded by water droplets and water spelling out water is beauty
  7. 7 Art contest winners standing next to their hung art on display at the Western Water Facility

Celebrating Our Winners

Winning students will be recognized at Western Water’s Arts & Grants Reception, where their artwork will be celebrated alongside their families and friends. The winning pieces will also be displayed at the Donald D. Galleano Water is Life Art Gallery at 14205 Meridian Parkway in Riverside.

Additionally, the winning artwork will be submitted to The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (Metropolitan) for consideration in their annual student art calendar, which is an excellent opportunity to spotlight the students' work on a larger stage.

For more information, contact Western Water's Education team at 951.571.7119 or email us.

  1. Contest Guidelines
  2. Judging Criteria

Contest guidelines

  1. The theme changes yearly and will be announced when the submission timeframe opens.
  2. Art will be judged on theme clarity, neatness/quality, and creativity/originality.
  3. BOLD, BRIGHT, BRILLIANT colors show up best! Students may use the following media: crayons, markers, pencils, paints, watercolors, chalk, cut paper, fabric, and/or digital art. Photography is not being accepted at this time.
  4. Art MUST be drawn/designed HORIZONTALLY.
  5. Words must be spelled CORRECTLY.
  6. Only ORIGINAL artwork will be accepted—no copying of others’ artwork, traced, trademarked, or copyrighted characters and slogans.
  7. Art should depict various water uses and/or “wise” water use at home or school, in industries or businesses, in the environment, in agriculture, recreation, or water use in health and safety.
  8. The artwork MUST be “truly” the hands-on work of the student and realistically represent the student's age, grade, and developmental skill level.
  9. Submissions become the property of Western Water and may not be returned.

Eligible schools


Below is a list of eligible schools across Western Water's retail service area. For more information, email Western Water's Education team.

Riverside Unified School District
Amelia Earhart Middle School
Benjamin Franklin Elementary School
Frank Augustus Miller Middle School
John F. Kennedy Elementary School
Lake Matthews Elementary School
Mark Twain Elementary School
Martin Luther King High School
Tomás Rivera Elementary School
William Howard Taft Elementary School
Woodcrest Elementary School

Alvord Unified School District
Lake Hill Elementary School

Murrieta Unified School District
Murrieta Elementary School

Val Verde Unified School District
Citrus Hill High School