ASCE OC EWRI: Inspiring Young Engineers at OCWD Children’s Water Festival

At this year’s Children’s Water Education Festival, hosted by the Orange County Water District, EWRI proudly joined dozens of agencies and organizations in inspiring the next generation of water professionals. Held April 15–16 at Oak Canyon Park, the 29th annual event welcomed more than 5,600 elementary students from across Orange County for two days of hands-on learning focused on water science, environmental stewardship, and career exploration.

Representing Environmental and Water Resources Institute, EWRI volunteers hosted an interactive booth centered on a tabletop hydraulic flume model. It was one of the festival’s most engaging demonstrations of real-world engineering principles in action.

Students were invited to step into the role of engineers by experimenting with flowing water in a clear acrylic flume system. Using adjustable features such as weirs, pipes, and obstructions, participants explored how changes to a channel affect water movement and behavior.

Guided by EWRI volunteers, students tackled questions like: Can water flow uphill? Can it jump? What happens when you block the channel? These simple but powerful prompts encouraged curiosity while introducing key hydraulic concepts such as flow rate, energy, and system response.

The flume model consists of a recirculating pump, elevated chute, and collection basin. It allowed continuous water flow, giving students immediate visual feedback as they tested their ideas. This hands-on approach helped bridge the gap between abstract science concepts and real-world applications in water engineering.

EWRI presenters focused on two primary goals:

• Strengthening student understanding of hydraulic principles through direct experimentation.

• Encouraging critical thinking by allowing students to test “what if” scenarios and observe cause-and-effect relationships.

Student understanding was reinforced through guided questioning, interactive challenges, and observation-based discussions, ensuring each participant walked away with both knowledge and enthusiasm.

The Children’s Water Education Festival continues to be one of the largest events of its kind in the nation, having reached more than 163,000 students since its inception in 1997. With 64 educational activities and participation from industry leaders, nonprofits, and public agencies, the event highlights the power of collaboration in advancing water education.

EWRI’s participation reflects its ongoing commitment to outreach, education, and the development of future engineers and environmental stewards. By making complex concepts approachable and fun, EWRI volunteers helped spark curiosity and perhaps even planted the seed for a future career in water resources.

As the water industry looks ahead to future challenges, events like this serve as a reminder: today’s students are tomorrow’s problem-solvers.

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About the Author:

Ben Smith oversees OCWD's recharge basins and wetlands while keeping billions of gallons in check. With dual master's degrees in Civil Engineering and Public Administration, he somehow makes water policy sound cool—even to college students he teaches on the side. From PFAS to percolation, Ben keeps the flow going (literally).