- Home
- Community Outreach
- Water Education
- 2022 Pure Water Soquel - High School Video Contest
2022 Pure Water Soquel - High School Video Contest
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.
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.
Video guidelines
- Your video must be a minimum of 60 seconds and no more than 90 seconds in length (this includes the required closing scene – see more info below).
- All entries must be student-created. The entry may not contain any copyrighted material of any medium (music, images, etc.) and no professional assistance is allowed. Such use will result in an automatic disqualification.
- Do not delete your original project file until the winners of the contest have been announced. If your video is a winner, you may be asked to make modifications to your entry, for future use by the District.
- The video filename must include the last name of the student submitting the video AND the title of the video, to help us quickly and easily identify your video and match it to your Entry/Release Form.
- Export your entry as a single file of the highest quality. Preferred formats are mp4, mpg, wmv, or avi.
- Upload your video via the link that will be provided once your entry form is submitted.
How should I end my video?
The closing scene must last for a minimum of four seconds, and must feature:
The Pure Water Soquel logo and the Soquel Creek Water District logo (do not modify the logos from their original forms or colors)
AND
The following text: For more information about Pure Water Soquel, please visit SoquelCreekWater.org/PWS
Cash awards!
1st Place - $300
2nd Place - $200
3rd Place - $100
In addition to the cash awards, all three winning videos may be featured on the Soquel Creek Water District’s website and social media channels, and may be provided to local and regional television stations for their consideration as public service announcements (we cannot guarantee they will be broadcast).
- Fill out the online Entry Form
- All contributors/participants involved in the production of the video must be included on the Entry Form.
- If entering more than one video, use a separate Entry Form for each
- 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.
Information Resources
- Soquel Creek Water District
- Soquel Creek Water District's Pure Water Soquel Project
- Orange County Groundwater Replenishment System
- Pure Water Monterey Groundwater Replenishment Project
- WateReuse
Resource for Video Creation
- Edutopia - Resources for Filmmaking in the Classroom
- Invideo - How to Make a Video: The Only Guide You’ll Ever Need
Judging criteria/Entry checklist
- Purpose: your video should teach viewers about Pure Water Soquel, what it will do, and the value of purified water as part of a water supply portfolio
- Theme: it must include the theme “Pure Water Soquel: Transforming Water – A New, Reliable, Drought-Proof, and Climate-Change Resilient Water Supply”
- Accuracy: the content/messages in your video must be factual and accurate – sources for research on the theme/topic are listed above
- Creativity and Originality: your video should incorporate concepts, style, or media that are unique, different, creative, attention-getting, and entertaining (any humor must be G-rated and appropriate for families and children)
- Production Quality: the video’s image quality, editing, and flow should be smooth and clear - no blurry or pixelated images (unless used as a special effect); the audio quality should not be distorted, and the sound should be mixed so any voiceover can be clearly understood over any music or background noise; the overall quality of the video should indicate that extra effort was put into its production
- Logo/Website: your video must include the logos and “for more information” screen at the end as described above
- Entry: the online entry form must be completely and accurately filled out, and the video must be submitted by the deadline; your video filename must include the last name of the student submitting the video AND the title of the video