Elementary and high school students in Maine participated in a poster contest during the state’s Clean Water Week, which was celebrated June 1-7. The Maine Water Environment Association (MEWEA) sponsored the contest with a theme of “Why Water’s Worth It To Me,” and students created posters that reflected the importance of water, ways water is wasted, ways to conserve water and how to protect water resources.

On June 5, in a presentation at the Hall of Flags in the State House, the winning students from each of four age groups were recognized by Governor Paul LePage, the MEWEA and the Maine Department of Environmental Protection and the Maine Clean Water Week was created to recognize the value, importance and need to protect and conserve water resources. For more information on the poster contest, please read, “Paint Me a Picture.”

The 2014 winners included:

• Grades 1-3: Caris Welsh, St. Brigid School, Portland
• Grades 4-6: Luke Knowles, Massabesic Middle School, East Waterboro
• Grades 7-8: Malina Voter, Molly Ockett Middle School, Fryeburg
• Grades 9-12: Ashley Carver, Messalonskee High School, Oakland

MEWEA is a nonprofit organization whose goals include: promoting education and communication within the wastewater treatment industry and to the general public; supporting a balanced view of environmental policies and enhancing the image of wastewater personnel.