Tapping in on pupils

IN AN effort to curb water wastage and raise awareness about conservation and recycling from the bottom up, the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality is holding this year's National Water Week events at the city's schools.

The three-day event, which started on Tuesday, saw 16 schools around the Bay educated on the consequences of water wastage.

A scheduled plan, which started in February and runs until December, will see the municipality's environmental management department doing awareness drives at 352 schools throughout Port Elizabeth.

The schools chosen to be part of this week's programme include Ndyebo High School, Mpumalanga, Dumani and Ikhwezelihle primary schools, all in Motherwell.

The Department of Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism's Zungu Mene said: "[Pupils] are the future generation and by [teaching them to use] water cautiously, they can ensure a better life for generations to come."

While visiting schools earlier this month, the department encouraged teachers to keep track of how much water was used at school. "This is getting one step closer to saving [water] – seeing that each drop helps," Mene said.

Each school started their own "water-wise" group, with pupils giving presentations to their peers about saving water.

The environmental management department is also planning a school trip with the municipality's Go Green eco bus, which is designed specifically to create awareness about water conservation.

Pupils on the bus will hand out Go Green advocacy programme brochures to schools and the community.

Municipal environmental educator Yekiwe Goduka said it was hoped that through the campaign, pupils would in turn educate their families and communities about saving water.

"Water is an essential part of life, therefore we decided to educate pupils on saving water, not only at school but at home too," Goduka said.

The pupils had three weeks to prepare presentations on water saving to their schools.

Environmental educator Patrick Basi said: "The event was beneficial and pupils were fully prepared for their presentations. We just hope our water saving tips will be used on a daily basis. Everyone has to be aware of wasting and saving water." -