The Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the American Water Works Association sponsored a 2008 Drinking Water Week Poster Contest, and the winning posters were chosen from more than 400 entries submitted by fifth grade students across Missouri. First place went to Jason Ingram of Lee’s Summit, Mo.; Sutton Porth of Lawson, Mo., took second place; and the third-place winner is Kylie Vaught, of Crane, Mo.

The poster contest was held in celebration of National Drinking Water Week, which takes place May 4-10, to make people more aware of the benefits of tap water. A safe, reliable water supply is critical to the success of any community. People often take water resources for granted unless they are living through a drought or when depleted water supplies threaten a community’s future. Water plays a vital role in our daily lives, and this poster contest asked students to celebrate what only tap water can deliver.