By Mary O’KEEFE

Crescenta Valley Water District (CVWD) is calling on all middle and high school students to stretch their imaginations and encompass a science fiction future that has no water.

“Life Without Water” is the basis of the essay contest CVWD has created for students. The first place winner will receive $100 and the essay will be published in CVW.

“Our contest was inspired by the serious situation with long-term water supply availability. The Colorado River is a prime example. There are ongoing first-in-U.S.-history negotiations between the basin states and the federal government regarding mandatory cutbacks in the amount of water available,” said Patrick Atwater, CVWD Regulatory and Public Affairs manager. “It’s a big deal.”

He hopes students enjoy writing and using their imaginations while learning about the water crisis.

“The bigger hope is that adults learn that the safe and secure water supply we take for granted isn’t guaranteed into the future. We need to proactively plan and act in order to ensure safe and clean water is available for the next generation,” he added.

Those who would like to participate in the “Life Without Water” essay contest can go to cvwd.com/life-without-water to get more information. Submissions are due by Sept. 15.

Life without water is, in reality, a terrifying thought. It is taken for granted and it is nationally expected that when the faucet is turned on water will flow. The problem is years of droughts and extreme weather have affected water supplies.

“Groundwater is a vital resource in California and accounts for almost 60% of our state’s water supply in drought years. Multiple dry and drought years over recent decades have put a strain on California’s groundwater resources,” according to California Water Watch.

On Sept. 28, CVWD will be hosting an Imagine a Day Without Water event.

“The focus [of this event] is coordinating across emergency responders and proactively preparing with the community,” Atwater said. “The idea is to plan for the worst so that it never happens. That is our job as utility professionals: to manage and plan for [such emergencies].”

The public is invited to the event at the Judy Tejeda Reservoir from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 28. The Reservoir is in the 4700 block of Rosemont Avenue just north of Rosemont Middle School.

“Attendees can practice filling up a jug of water from our reservoir [and] learn from participating emergency responder partners,” he said.

There will also be face painting and balloon animals for kids.