Imagine A Day Without Water

2022 Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest Winners!2022 Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest Winners


Of the 248 poster entries received from youth in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, one winner was chosen from each of five grade divisions. In addition, the top 69 entries were available to the public to view online and vote for a favorite art entry; with 834 total online votes, a fan favorite was selected. All six winners will receive a $200 gift card and a water conservation goodie bag.  

The winners for the 2022 Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest are:

  • K – 2nd Grade: Merrick Meslar, Murray Elementary School, Grade K 
  • 3rd – 4th Grade: Zaina Ornan, Free Union Country School, Grade 4
  • 5th – 6th Grade: Olivia Rice, Stony Point Elementary School, Grade 5
  • 7th – 8th Grade: Seamus Brown, Mountaintop Montessori, Grade 8
  • 9th – 12th Grade: Shoukufeh Alizada, Charlottesville High School, Grade 9
  • Fan Favorite: Kush Jani, Albemarle High School, Grade 12

In addition, teachers were encouraged to promote student participation, and four teachers were selected to receive a $200 gift card to be used for classroom projects: Ginnie Daugherty (Mountaintop Montessori), Teresa Sury (Charlottesville Day School), Jenny Canalichio (Stone-Robinson Elementary School), Allison Shields (Venable Elementary School). 

Thank you to everyone that participated and supported the Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest!

Check out the City's special video honoring the Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest winners and participants.

K – 2nd Grade 2022 Winner: Merrick Meslar, Murray Elementary School, Grade K Merrick Meslar 2022 IADWW

K – 2nd Grade Winner: Merrick Meslar, Murray Elementary School, Grade K

Zaina August 2022 IADWW 3rd – 4th Grade 2022 Winner: Zaina Ornan, Free Union Country School, Grade 4

3rd – 4th Grade Winner: Zaina Ornan, Free Union Country School, Grade 4

5th – 6th Grade 2022 Winner: Olivia Rice, Stony Point Elementary School, Grade 5 Olivia Rice 2022 IADWW

5th – 6th Grade Winner: Olivia Rice, Stony Point Elementary School, Grade 5

 Seamus Brown 2022 IADWW7th – 8th Grade 2022 Winner: Seamus Brown, Mountaintop Montessori, Grade 8

7th – 8th Grade Winner: Seamus Brown, Mountaintop Montessori, Grade 8

9th – 12th Grade 2022 Winner: Shoukufeh Alizada, Charlottesville High School, Grade 9 Shoukufeh Alizada 2022 IADWW

9th – 12th Grade Winner: Shoukufeh Alizada, Charlottesville High School, Grade 9

 Kush Jani 2022 IADWWFan Favorite 2022 Winner: Kush Jani, Albemarle High School, Grade 12

Fan Favorite Winner: Kush Jani, Albemarle High School, Grade 12

Could you go a day without water? No water to drink or use to make food. No water to shower, flush the toilet, or brush your teeth. Firefighters couldn’t put out fires, pools would be closed, and farmers couldn’t water their crops. 

2022 Imagine a Day With(out) Water Logo VerticalWe are excited to announce that the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County Service Authority, and Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority are holding their 8th annual Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest. Each year, we ask youth to show us why we must value and save water in our community. This year’s art contest continues to allow for flexibility to ensure our entire community can participate in our contest and provide an opportunity for the youth in our community to learn and illustrate the importance of water.


The 2022 Imagine a Day without Water Art Contest asks youth to consider this year’s theme of “Value of Water” in their artistic creations. Art submissions will be accepted starting on September 28th in anticipation for the National Imagine a Day With(out) Water day on October 20th. The contest will be open to all youth in grades K – 12th living in the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Submissions must be original, 2-D creations but can be any size and may include photography. 

All Imagine a Day without Water art entries must be submitted by October 31st. Submissions will be accepted via direct mail to the Charlottesville’s Department of Public Works (305 4th St. NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903) or electronically through our submission and online voting platform. In addition, there is an opportunity to drop off entries in-person at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library’s Central, Northside, and Crozet Branches during their normal hours of service

2021’s contest was a huge success bringing in 224 entries, and we are excited for increased participation this year. There will be cash prizes awarded to the finalists in different age categories and a fan favorite will be selected by the community (online voting available November 14th through 28th). Winners will be announced via press release on December 7th. Four teachers will also be honored for their support of the contest and campaign through a random drawing and the teacher that had the most students that participated. 

We are excited to see the youth’s creativity and why or how they value water!

One important note this year is that the national Imagine a Day without Water campaign has been reframed to Imagine a Day With(out) Water. For many Americans living a day without water is a reality and not something they need to imagine. Whether it is a drought, contaminated water source, or inability to pay a water bill, access to safe, clean drinking water is unfortunately not something everyone can depend on. This year we join the national call to action for the need of sustainable, equitable, and safe drinking water for all. In Charlottesville, we can join this effort by valuing water and only using what we need. 

You can learn more about the Value of Water Coalition and the National Imagine a Day without Water Campaign on their website.

Imagine a Day without Water written on the Free Speech Wall


2022 Imagine a Day without Water Header

2022 Theme: "Value of Water"

Important Dates:

Media Types Accepted:

  • Multiple submissions are allowed! Make sure you convey the contest theme: "Value of Water".
  • Entries must be the work of one individual youth, no collaborations. 
  • Any original 2-dimentional artwork or photography.
  • Artwork can be any size and made with any type of medium. 
    • Suggested sizes for drawings: 11" x 8.5" (horizontal)
    • Suggested sizes for photography: 4:3 ratio (horizonal) 

How to Submit your Media? (note: we are no longer accepting entries)

Water Conservation
Department of Public Works
305 4th Street NW
Charlottesville, VA 22903

Online Submission and Online Voting Website (Link)

Art Contest Flyer & Submission Form (PDF)

Art Contest Poster (PDF)


Contest Prizes

$200 Gift Card and Water Conservation Goodie Bags!

Youth Prizes

Teacher Prizes

Teachers that have their students participate with be eligible for prize. The more students that participate will increase the odds of the teacher winning!

  • Most classroom submissions
  • A random winner each from a CCS, ACPS, and a private school or organization

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Albemarle County Service Authority, City of Charlottesville, and Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority L