School’s water-saving grant comes on tap

MT EVELYN Primary School hopes to save 180,000 litres of water a year after it was granted $32,000 funding for the installation of two water tanks.
Parent and school councillor Jo Goodwin said the funding grant was a part of the Federal Government’s Community Water Grant Scheme.
Ms Goodwin said the funding was a first round offer in the scheme in which the Federal Government has promised to spend $200 million over the next five years to help communities tackle water saving projects.
She said the funding would allow the school to purchase two water tanks.
One 22,700 litre tank will be connected to the toilet block and the second, a 9000 litre tank, will be installed on the roof of the art room.
Ms Goodwin said this would provide the school with an extra water supply for the art room and other uses.
“As well as the new water tanks we will be replacing all the toilets as they are all old fashioned and working on a 12 litre flush system.
“We will be replacing the toilets with a three to six litre dual flush system,” she said.
Ms Goodwin said the school would also replace all the hand taps with a spring loaded automatic turn-off tap system.
“This will allow us to not only save water, but to show the students how it can be done,” she said.
Ms Goodwin said this latest water saving project reinforces the school’s role as one of the Shire of Yarra Ranges sustainable schools.
She said she hopes the project will help students both at school and home to understand the importance of conserving water consumption.