Celebrating Our Water Everyday!

Celebrating the Value of NC's Water Resources

PAIGE AZZARITA & LAUREN DANIEL

What would happen without water?

We want to spotlight how we value and use our existing water resources.

Everyone values their waterways for different reasons, so let's celebrate all the water throughout North Carolina! Do you know where your water comes from? Do you know where it goes afterwards? What stream or river is in your community? What river basin are you in? "Imagine a Day Without Water" is an annual observance to raise awareness for our water resources. While it's tough to imagine a day without water, we can all agree that having access to clean water is extremely valuable! The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality invites you to participate in this project throughout the year.

According to imagineadaywithoutwater.org:

"In 2019, the US Water Alliance and DigDeep  identified  that there are two million individuals in our country who lack access to clean and safe drinking water and sanitation services. In addition,  millions more  are on the verge of losing water access. Black, Indigenous, and Communities of Color, as well as low-income communities, are the most likely to lack adequate plumbing and face other water access issues. "

North Carolina hosts 17 river basins throughout the state. Each river basin features rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, and even aquifers!

A waterfall at the Chattanooga River Basin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

We are celebrating the many ways we enjoy and utilize our state's water resources. Each waterbody supports our communities in a variety of ways, such as:

  • Recreation
  • Drinking Water
  • Energy Production
  • Industry/business
  • Agriculture
  • Fish and Wildlife

All of these water users depend on our water resources to be clean and abundant.

How to Participate

We are inviting students from across the state to draw a picture or write a poem to celebrate their favorite waterway. Do you have a creek, stream, or lake in your community that you enjoy? Maybe you like to explore a stream at a nearby park, or look for macro invertebrates in a creek near a hiking trail? All submissions will be featured on our statewide Water Art map! This invitation is open to ALL ages!

  1. Think about your favorite body of water. It could be a lake, pond, river, stream, or even an aquifer!
  2. Draw a picture or write a poem about your waterbody of choice.
  3. Take a picture of your work! Please make sure it's well-lit and easy to see.
  4. Submit your work using this link:  Click Here! 
  5. View your work using this statewide map!

Gallery

Water, NC DEQ, and You

From the laboratory scientists who test water samples to the experts who oversee more than 3,000 dams across the state, our great team is working to protect North Carolina’s water resources. You can learn more about all of the ways that NC DEQ is working to protect our water on our  website .

A. (Top Left) The Division of Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources inspects a dam in North Carolina. B. (Top Center) Watering of the Living Wall at NC DEQ's office in Raleigh, NC. C. (Top Right) Partners of the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Partnership monitor wildlife D. (Bottom Left) The Division of Water Infrastructure visits a water tower in Liberty, NC. E. (Bottom Right) Environmental Education helps install a pond at a local school.

Learn More about NC Water

Use the links below to learn more about your water:

Educational Resources:

Learn more about the Value of Water Campaign throughout North Carolina:

Want to add your initiative to this list? Email Lauren.Daniel@deq.nc.gov

A waterfall at the Chattanooga River Basin in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.