New Castle, DE – New Castle County Executive Matt Meyer and General Manager of New Castle County Public Works Tracy Surles have announced a new twist on the successful Clean Stream Champion program. The program encourages County students (below the age of 18) to create awareness through art around one of the five Clean Stream Champion topics:
- Scoop the Poop
- Garden for Water & Life
- Only Rain Down the Storm Drain
- Cease the Grease
- Reduce Household Chemicals
Students (one entry per student) can upload their art in one of two categories:
- Coloring: Pull out your crayons or pens and color in one of our provided line art drawings. Each entry will be submitted into a sweepstakes drawing for one of 35 Amazon.com gift cards valued at $50 each.
- Freehand: Submit original art in any static format (drawing, painting, photoshop, photograph — no videos) on any one of these five topics.
Winning artists, as judged by the Public Works team, will be up for some great prizes as well, including New Castle County Department of Public Works staff will judge the entries and award prizes as follows:
- First Prize: Amazon.com gift certificate in the amount of $250
- Second Prize: Amazon.com gift certificate in the amount of $125
- Third Prize: Amazon.com gift certificate in the amount of $75
- 9 runners up: Amazon.com gift certificate in the amount of $50
Artists must have their guardians upload their entry to https://www.cleanstreamchampion.org/Art-Contest/ on or before June 12, 2020.
New Castle County’s Department of Public Works maintains the state’s largest wastewater treatment system with more than 1,700 miles of sanitary sewer lines that serve 118,000 customers and takes in more than 50 millions of gallons each day. Cooking grease and oils poured down the drain build up in that system over time and are a leading cause of sewer blockages, backups and spills which harm the environment and create significant cleanup costs. Through more effective monitoring, regular cleaning and public education county government has cut the number of backups and overflows by half. It is estimated that the collective change in behavior from the 8,500 New Castle County residents who signed the Great Schools Clean Streams pledge last year resulted in tens of thousands of fewer pounds of grease and oils being dumped down the drain – that makes a difference in environmental quality and saves taxpayers money. That’s why county government sponsors this annual education campaign as part of its investment in a more efficient and effective wastewater treatment system.
Becoming a Clean Stream Champion
In addition, parents can become a Clean Stream Champion and be eligible to win all sorts of eco-friendly prizes by taking the pledge at CleanStreamChampion.org.
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