About 400 students entered the Water Awareness Poster Contest. Ten students have been recognized as finalists. Their posters move forward for a chance to be featured in the 2019 Water Awareness Poster Calendar published by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Ayushi Das, 7th Grade, Sierra Vista Middle School

Mikoto Eguchi, 7th Grade, Sierra Vista Middle School

Tanvi Garneni, 7th Grade, Sierra Vista Middle School

Sarah Ida, 5th Grade, Vista Verde Elementary

Si-yun Ke, 7th Grade, South Lake Middle School

Chloe Kong, 3rd Grade, Portola Springs Elementary

Athena Maldonado, 6th Grade, De Portola Elementary

Vishwa Patel, 2nd Grade, Deerfield Elementary

Mahima Wuppalapati, 2nd Grade, Beacon Park Elementary

Rowan Yoo, 1st Grade, Westpark Elementary

Registration is open for Sea & Sage Audubon Society’s nature day camps. The organization offers a variety of camps at IRWD’s beautiful San Joaquin Marsh and Wildlife Sanctuary: Fledgling Camp for children ages 7 and 8; Marsh Birds Camp for ages 9 to 12; plus Advanced Bird Camp and Birds, Bugs, Blossoms for 11 and older.

Each camp features daily nature walks, journaling, research and art projects. Information and enrollment forms are available at seaandsageaudubon.org. Register today, because camps fill up quickly.

Your toilet is not the place to dump unmentionables. Many products are unsuitable for flushing, including sanitary products, wipes and medications.

Each year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration hosts National Prescription Drug Take Back Day to prevent drugs, particularly opioids, from getting into the wrong hands. In 2017, the event collected a record 456 tons of pills.

In observance of this year’s Take Back Day on April 28, IRWD reminds you not to flush medications. Take them to a collection receptacle at a police agency or participating drug store, such as Walgreens at 13052 Newport Avenue in Tustin. To find a year-round collection center near you, visit takebackday.dea.gov or call 800-882-9539.

Drugs can harm wildlife and pollute the ecosystem. So please dispose of pharmaceuticals properly.

Will you pledge to conserve water this month? If so, you and your city could both be winners.

Before the end of April, just click on mywaterpledge.com and make a series of online pledges as part of the Wyland National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. Cities with the most pledges in each of five population categories will win. And participants from winning cities will be entered to receive hundreds of environmentally friendly prizes, such as $5,000 for home utilities, water-saving fixtures and home improvement gift cards.

Irvine is in it to win it. “I am hopeful that what is a short-term challenge for our residents becomes a long-term practice of conservation,” Mayor Donald P. Wagner said. For more information, see cityofirvine.org.