Imagine a Day Without Water 2024

Contest Overview

The City of Grand Rapids Water System is excited to host the annual Imagine a Day Without Water Writing Contest. The contest is an opportunity for young people (3rd-12th grade students) to share why water is important to them and their community.

Entries can be submitted online, by email, or mail. Entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Friday, October 11, 2024. 

The winners will be announced via email on October 31, 2024, and their entries will be published on the Water System website.

This competition is made possible by the generous support of our contest sponsor:

Enter the Contest

Use the following theme to write any writing style (short essay, poetry, etc.).  

Write a story or a news article that captures the journey of Michigan's water-from the time the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act was first enacted in 1974 to the present day.

How have technology and people worked together to protect this vital resource? What challenges were faced along the way? And most importantly, what does the future hold for Michigan's water?

All entries are limited to 250 words.

Online

To enter, complete and submit the online form and attach your entry.

Online Form

Email & Mail

To enter via email or mail, download the entry form, attach your entry and send it to us via:

Mail to: Imagine a Day Without Water

      1900 Oak Industrial Dr. NE

      Grand Rapids, MI 49505

                      or 

Email to: adaywithoutwater@grcity.us

Download Entry Form(PDF, 106KB)

Contest Rules & Eligibility

• Entries must be the original work of one individual.
• student, no collaborations.
• The use of Al is discouraged.
• Entries must be the original work of one 3rd-12th grade student, with no collaborations.
• Entries submitted via email or mail must include the entry form.
• Entries can be submitted via the online form. 
• Submission will be judged on message (keep in mind the theme), voice, creativity, and strength of the writing.
• Any writing style may be submitted (short essay, poetry, etc.) and is limited to 250 words or less.
• Students from the following townships/cities are eligible to submit an entry:
  • City of Grand Rapids
  • Ada Township
  • City of East Grand Rapids
  • Grand Rapids Township
  • City of Kentwood
  • Tallmadge Township
  • City of Walker
  • Wright Township
  • Cascade Township
  • Caledonia Township

• Entries must be submitted by 11:59 pm on Friday, October 11, 2024.

Prizes

Entries will be judged in three different categories: Grades 3 & 4, Grades 5 & 6, Grades 7 & 8, Grades 9 & 10, and 11 & 12. In each grade category:

• First-place winners will be awarded $100
• Second-place entries will be awarded $50
• Third-place entries will be awarded $25
• Fourth-place entries will be awarded $15

2023 Winners

Thank you to the 100+ students that participated in the 2023 Imagine a Day Without Water Writing Contest!  We awarded gift cards to students ranging from $100 to $15. Below are the 1^st, 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th place winners:

1st Place

3rd Place 

4th Place

Winning Entries(PDF, 286KB)