The Metropolitan North Georgia Water District is inviting 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in Rockdale to participate in the 2013 Water Essay Contest.

Students in Rockdale County, along with the City of Atlanta and 14 other counties in the district, are encouraged to participate in the contest. Participants are required to write a 300-500 word essay answering the question: “Why is water conservation important to you and our region?”

Essays must be submitted with an entry form, found on www.mydropcounts.org. Submissions must be legible and either typed or in pen on white paper. Entries will be judged on creativity, clarity and content. 

One winner from each of the 15 counties and the City of Atlanta will receive a $100 prize. A district-wide winner selected from all of the county and city winners will receive a grand prize of $500. 

Winners will be notified by Nov. 1. An awards reception will be held for the winners on Thurs., Nov. 14 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the South Wing of the Georgia Capitol. The district-wide winner and runner up will be announced during the awards reception.

The deadline to enter is Fri., Oct. 18.

Visit www.mydropcounts.org for resources and the essay judging rubric.

For more information concerning the essay contest, please contact Kostoula Vallianos at 404-463-3259 or kvallianos@atlantaregional.com.