Students take on water conservation challenge
Posted: 21 October 2019
Busselton Senior High School students will be the first in the region to participate in a pilot program launched by Busselton Water to mark National Water Week (21-27 October).
The school’s Year 7 cohort will now be able to access data from a newly-installed water logger to complete a detailed water audit of the Busselton Senior High School campus, before brainstorming and implementing water-saving ideas over the next 12 months.
Busselton Water Managing Director, Chris Elliott, said that as a local water provider, the organisation is always looking for ways to engage large water providers – like schools – in water efficiency efforts.
“We’re thrilled that Busselton Senior High School has risen to the challenge to reduce its water footprint – particularly by directly involving the students in measuring and reducing water use,” said Mr Elliott.
“National Water Week is a timely reminder that water is a precious resource and one that we need to do more to save to ensure there’s enough for future generations.”
Busselton Senior High School Humanities and Social Science Teacher, Lea-Ellen Goddard, said she is expecting the pilot program to have a huge benefit for the students as well as the school.
“The level of detail in the data available for our students to work with is just remarkable,” Ms Goddard said. “We’re expecting to see some great results as the students continue to analyse the school’s water use and determine how we can be saving more water.”
“This program is also the perfect next step for our Year 7s, who have already visited one of Busselton Water’s water treatment plants and learnt the process of extracting water from the aquifer,” she said.
Mr Elliott explained that “as it stands the pilot program has strong links to STEM and if a success at Busselton Senior High School, we will consider expanding it across other local schools to help educate students on water conservation and, in turn, help decrease the amount of water used by schools in the area.”
Busselton Water and Busselton Senior High School will work closely together over the next 12 months to develop a series of water efficiency measures that can be implemented across the campus.
In addition to the launch of the pilot program, Busselton Water has also celebrated National Water Week with a community competition to name its much-loved water drop mascot. Close to 750 names were suggested by the community, and more than 1,000 votes counted with the winning name announced this week – Hydro.
Hydro has an important role in educating the community, particularly young water users, on the importance of water and being waterwise.
About National Water Week
National Water Week is an annual celebration run by the Australian Water Association to build awareness around the value of water.
This year National Water Week runs between 21-27 October and focuses on the United Nationals 17 Sustainable Development Goals, asking communities to reflect on what actions can be taken to meet these goals including how to increase water-use efficiency to ensure freshwater supplies for the future.
For more information on National Water Week visit awa.asn.au.
