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Drinking Water Week Photo Contest Voting: "First Place" Category
Rapid City Water Division
In conjunction with the American Water Works Association’s annual Drinking Water Week, a photo contest was held in April to showcase the importance of drinking water to our community.
This year’s theme is “Rapid City Reflections”
in celebration of the community's 150th anniversary of its founding.
Please scroll down to view the top 7 public entries and a description of how the photo fits with this year's theme. Then, rank the photos at the end to help choose a winner in the "First Place" category.
The winning photo will be used by the Water Division for future publications and marketing materials, including its 2026 Drinking Water Report and website.
Please vote for your favorite photo by the end of day Friday, May 8, 2026.
1 | Autumn Joy
This is where the Pactola water ends up - one of our water sources.
Location: Canyon Lake Park
2 | Bridge Reflection
This photo fits the contest theme because it shows the nature of rapid through a reflective lens. This photo, taken on a calm, beautiful spring day, captures the beauty of Rapid Creek.
Location: Rapid Creek near City maintenance building
3 | Civil Reflection
There is a nice reflection of the bridge. I am a civil engineering student at Mines so I wanted to combine reflection with some concrete infrastructure. These bridges allow for Rapid Creek to still be a resource for our community.
Location: Rapid Creek near SDSMT
4 | Frigid Tranquility
This photo reflects the city as a whole, unpredictable yet beautiful.
Location: Mickelson Trail
5 | Rainbow Reflections
One cannot help but be mesmerized when seeing a rainbow in the sky! It is a true phenomenon of elements - water, air, sunlight - all working together reflecting, refracting, and dispersing to create a visible spectrum of colors. Water is life-giving and often taken for granted. Turn on the tap, there it is. As our city reflects on the past 150 years and makes plans for the next, we are wise to work together like the elements of the rainbow towards a brighter, sustainable, more hopeful future for all. (Photo taken during one of the first rain showers of the season, April 14, 2026 using iPhone 16, no filters.)
Location: Southwest Rapid City, SD
6 | Between Water and Night
The water is still. The light is low. The world has softened its edges. There’s a sense of tending—of caring for something small and warm while everything else grows dark. A time where you can "reflect" as you can slow down without disappearing. It’s the feeling of being held by quiet. Of belonging to a moment that doesn’t ask anything from you.
Location: Pactola Lake
7 | Peace on the Lake
Literal reflection of a breathtaking view within Rapid City.
Location: Canyon Lake Park
Please rank the above "Rapid City Reflections" photos in your order of preference, starting with your favorite:
*
Please rank the above "Rapid City Reflections" photos in your order of preference, starting with your favorite:
1
1 | Autumn Joy
1
2 | Bridge Reflection
1
3 | Civil Reflection
1
4 | Frigid Tranquility
1
5 | Rainbow Reflections
1
6 | Between Water and Night
1
7 | Peace on the Lake
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