Calendar Contest Entry Form

2011 Water Awareness Calendar Entry Form
Kindergarten - Fifth Grade
Virginia Beach Public Utilities

Create a picture showing what you do, in or around your home to use water wisely. The picture can be about:

• Water conservation
• Keeping fats, oils, and grease out of the sanitary sewer system
• Backflow prevention

Use standard 8 1/2" x 11" white paper or posterboard. Entries must be postmarked no later than February 26, 2010. Entries without a completed entry form attached will not be accepted.

Please have your teacher or parent review your completed entry form.

PLEASE PRINT AND COMPLETE IN FULL:

Name_________________________________________________________

Age _____Grade _________ Home Phone ____________________________

Home Address __________________________________________________

City __________________________________ State _______ Zip _________

Virginia Beach Public Utilities
Attn: Water Awareness Calendar Entry
Municipal Center - Building 2
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9035
(757) 385-4171

How can I conserve water?

1. Turn off the water while brushing teeth or shampooing.

2. Take shorter showers, or only fill the tub half full when taking a bath.

3. Don't use the toilet as a trashcan.

4. Only run the dishwasher or washing machine when you have a full load.

5. Use a nozzle on your garden hose when washing your car or your bike.

6. Only water your garden or lawn in the morning or evening to avoid evaporation.

7. Make sure the sprinkler is watering the lawn, not the sidewalk.

8. Fix all leaks.

9. And many more . . . You think of one!

How can I keep fats, oils, and grease out of the sanitary sewer system and storm drains?

1. Never pour fats, oils, or grease down the sink or flush it down the toilet.

2. Pour fats, oils, or grease in a can. Once the grease hardens, throw it away.

3. Scrape food off dishes and into the trash, not the garbage disposal.

4. Throw leftovers in the trash, not down the garbage disposal.

5. Take used motor oil to a recycling center.

6. Can you think of any other ways?

How can I prevent backflow?

When you put a straw into a drink, you have two choices: suck or blow. When you blow, you are pushing air into the drink. When you suck, you are pulling the liquid out. A garden hose is similar to a straw. It usually pushes water out, either through a sprinkler or a nozzle. But sometimes, something happens in the plumbing and the hose starts pulling things back into your house's plumbing.

If you were washing your dog in a tub outside and you put the end of the hose in the tub with the soapy, dirty dog-water and the hose started to suck the water into the house, what would happen? You probably wouldn't know about it until you went inside and turned on the faucet to get a drink of cold water. But instead of clear water, soapy water with little fleas floating in it came out. Gross!

1. Never put a hose under water or into a container.

2. Always keep a hose or faucet at least two inches above other substances.

3. Attach a backflow prevention device to the hose bib.

Contact Information:

Public Utilities Business Division

2405 Courthouse Dr.

Municipal Center, Bldg. 2

Virginia Beach,  VA  23456

Direct:  (757) 385-4631 or 1-866-697-3481

Fax:  (757) 385-4925

Hours of Operation:  Monday - Friday , 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.