Summer 2026 Wastewatcher Contest
For decades, Utah’s water districts have been incentivizing people to waste water by collecting taxes that lower its price. That’s why Utahns are the country’s most wasteful municipal water users despite living in the country’s 2nd driest state. The Great Salt Lake has been drying up in large part because of this wasteful water use.
That’s why we’re announcing a summer contest to raise awareness about water waste in Utah’s cities.
Enter our Wastewatcher Video & Photograph Contest to help make everyone more aware of Utah’s water waste epidemic during this epic drought. If you see sprinklers running during a rainstorm, someone watering their sidewalk, a large institution watering grass that no one touches, or some other wasteful use of outdoor water in Utah’s cities, respectfully shoot a video or snap a picture and submit it using the link below. Winners in both video and photo categories will receive some sweet prizes.
But please, do not confront anyone about their water waste.
All videos should be at least 10 seconds long, and entries get bonus points for good shot composition that tells a story of water waste in a unique or humorous way. Recognizable landmarks are a plus and multiple submissions are encouraged, but AI generated submissions will be disqualified. Each entry must include the time, day, and address of the water waste.
Entries are due by September 15.