More than 500 Arlington students entered this year's Arlington Water Utilities Value of Water Coloring Contest, which concluded on Oct. 1. Six winners, in grades pre-k through 4th grade, will be recognized Oct. 16 at the Arlington City Council meeting.

Each entry completed the sentence "Because I have water, I can ..." with an illustration. Whether it is to grow flowers, wash a load of clothes, or provide a cool drink for wildlife, all the entries demonstrated students are aware of water's value.

The coloring contest is held annually to coincide with a national event called Imagine a Day Without Water, which falls on Oct. 10 this year. Other co-sponsors of the competition are Tarrant Regional Water District's Water is Awesome campaign, River Legacy Living Science Center, and the Arlington Public Library. All winners and their teachers will receive an Arlington Water Utilities tote bag with five water-themed books, a water bottle, and passes to the Discovery Room at River Legacy Living Science Center. Top entries will be displayed at River Legacy Living Science Center during October.

The 2018 winning students are:

• Pre-K - Elaina (submitted at an Arlington Public Library)
• Kindergarten - Yerik - Anderson Elementary (AISD)
• First Grade - Dahlila - Key Elementary (AISD)
• Second Grade - Julian - Johns Elementary (AISD)
• Third Grade - Vy - Adams Elementary (AISD)
• Fourth Grade - Tri - Adams Elementary (AISD)

Click here to see some of the entries in this year's contest.

Water utilities and conservation groups nationwide work together to encourage water conservation through events like the annual Imagine A Day Without Water campaign. You can learn more about this year's celebration today and future events at www.thevalueofwater.org.