EnviroKids 38 Marine & Blue Flag Summer 2017

ADVERTORIAL

To find out how your school could Moin the WESSA Eco-Schools programme, visit www.wessa.org.za or email delana@wessa.co.za .

COOL SCHOOL

Bonamelo Primary School in Doornkop, Soweto, realised they were wasting water every time their learners washed their hands or drank water with the taps running at full flow In these times of water restrictions, the school wanted to know exactly how much water was being wasted and what they could do to start saving this precious resource.

The grade 2 class at Bonamelo decided to implement two projects to control water wastage, while keeping a record of their daily water use.

Water- wise drinking 1

Learners are now drinking water from 10-litre containers to stop the water wastage that comes from drink- ing straight from the tap. And, because learners don’t have to go outside to drink any more, they don’t have to leave the classroom and won’t miss out on schoolwork!

Bonamelo Primary School is proud to have been part of the WESSA Eco-Schools Programme since 2016.

Tippy taps Learners changed to washing their hands using the tippy tap system and have placed a basin underneath the tap to collect the grey water. A water audit poster next to the tippy tap is used to record how much grey water is collected – a great way to make everyone aware of the project. 2

THE RESULTS

Both of the projects have been successful in saving water and the school can see exactly how much water is saved every day from the data collected. Before, learners used about 50 litres of water a day just to wash their hands! Today they use about 50 litres of water a week! The young learners also help to record the water saved, which is a practical and fun way of improving their maths skills. Bonamelo’s plan is to introduce these projects to the other grades in 2018... just imagine how much more water the school will save then! + = saved water

WESSA Eco-Schools, DWS and 50 schools across South Africa are working together on meaningful water action projects. Each school strives to become a water-wise institution that responds to the water challenges and risks its community faces.

Photos supplied

10 EnviroKids Vol. 38(4), Summer 2017

Words Zanele Khumalo & Lomelelo Lukhubeni (WESSA Eco-Schools Coordinators in Gauteng)