2022 Pure Water Soquel - High School Video Contest

Camera reels

Winning Videos

We Can't Drink Sea Water

by Noah Skrovan

Safe Water for Everyone

by Samantha Muñoz

Contest Details

Show off your filmmaking skills by creating a 60-90 second video to help build awareness of an exciting new project that will create a new, drought-proof, climate-change resilient, sustainable water supply: Pure Water Soquel. You can create an animation, commercial, reality show, newscast, or even a music video. Let your imagination go wild, and come up with a creative, engaging video explaining Pure Water Soquel, what it will do, and the value of using purified recycled water as part of our water supply.  

Contest theme

Pure Water Soquel: Transforming Water
A New, Reliable, Drought-Proof, and Climate-Change Resilient Water Supply

All entries must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on April 29, 2022.  


Eligibility

This contest is open to grades 9–12 at Soquel High School and Aptos High School. 

What is Pure Water Soquel?

Pure Water Soquel is a project by Soquel Creek Water District now under construction that will purify recycled wastewater to drinking water standards to replenish the Santa Cruz Mid-County Groundwater Basin. Purified water will be stored in the basin using seawater intrusion prevention wells to help raise underground water levels, create a barrier to keep saltwater contamination from moving further inland, and provide a drought-proof, climate-change resilient sustainable new supply of water to support our communities and protect our natural resources.  

Your primary source of information for producing your video will be www.soquelcreekwater.org/pws, but you may also want to do additional research at sites such as Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System (www.ocwd.com/gwrs), Pure Water Monterey Groundwater Replenishment Project (www.purewatermonterey.org), and WateReuse (www.watereuse.org).  

Examples of some of the key message points that help explain Pure Water Soquel

  • There is no “new” water on Earth — all the water is constantly being recycled through the natural water cycle.
  • The groundwater basin — the District’s only source of drinking water — is critically overdrafted, with seawater contamination confirmed at multiple locations.  
  • State-of-the-art technology will be used to treat and purify recycled water to drinking water standards. This technology is proven and used at other facilities around California, the United States, and around the world. 
  • Purified water is a safe, clean way to reuse recycled wastewater. 
  • By reusing recycled water, we also leave more fresh water in rivers and creeks for the protection of wildlife ecosystems and other habitats. 
  • Recycling the treated wastewater for beneficial reuse by purifying it to replenish the groundwater basin reduces the amount of water that is discharged into the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. 
  1. Entry Rules
  2. Video Guidelines
  3. cash Awards

This video contest is open to grades 9–12 at Soquel High School and Aptos High School. You may enter more than one video, but you must use a separate entry form for each video submitted. Entries can be an individual or team effort. Prizes are awarded to the primary creator/applicant. The creator/applicant is responsible for any distribution of prize money to their co-creators and contributors, at their own discretion. An example of a contributor would be an actor who had a role in the video, or someone who otherwise assists in filming. There is no limit on how many contributors may be part of the video project. However - no professional assistance is allowed. 

  1. Submission Information
  2. Information Resources
  3. Judging criteria 
  1. Fill out the online Entry Form
  2. All contributors/participants involved in the production of the video must be included on the Entry Form. 
  3. If entering more than one video, use a separate Entry Form for each 
  4. Once you submit your form, you will be emailed a link for uploading your video 

All entries must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on April 29, 2022.  

Please note: after winners are selected, creators of the winning videos will be required to fill out a release form, signed by a parent/guardian, allowing the use of the video by Soquel Creek Water District.