Imperial, California - Imperial Irrigation District water safety mascot Dippy Duck and the IID Board of Directors presented $12,000 in summer activity grants to six Imperial Valley communities as part of the district’s water safety campaign during the board’s June 26 meeting.

The funds help make swimming pools and other activities available for children and adults to keep them busy during the hot summer months and support Dippy Duck’s message to stay away from canals and waterways.

Now that the school year has ended and local youth seek activities to keep them active and cool during the summer, IID’s grants will help with the costs of providing safe water activities.

Grants were awarded to the cities of Brawley, Calexico, El Centro, Holtville, Imperial and the Heber Public Utility District.

Since 1959, the district has presented a water safety campaign to children in the Imperial Valley, reinforcing the life-saving message to stay away from canals. Between April 24 and June 8, 2018, IID visited 44 schools spreading the water safety message to approximately 21,000 kindergarten through sixth grade students, reinforcing Dippy’s three main rules:

• Do not swim in canals
• Do not ride, walk or play near canals
• Do not jump into canals

For more information, visit www.dippyduck.com where fun-filled interactive games and activities are featured. Information about local summer programs, pool and library locations and hours are also posted there.