Schools hook up to water tanks

Five water tanks have been dropped off at a handful of local schools to kickstart the new Water4Schools programme in Rotorua.

Selwyn School received two 5000-litre water tanks on Friday to capture rainwater from their spouting, becoming the first primary school in Rotorua to take on the programme.

Selwyn School enviro-education teacher Karen Ewing said the Water4Schools programme was their next big step in becoming sustainable.

"We can fill the tanks up in the winter time and use them in the summer for the gardens and water play," she said.

She said the water bill for any school was very high and this would help combat that cost.

"I think we will save the school money in the long run as well."

Water4Schools started in Tauranga last year to help schools reduce water usage.

Schools can hook the tanks up to an irrigation system for their gardens or even supply water for their toilets.

"Our pupils are currently learning about growing our own food and recycling with worm farms but this is another step in our journey to be sustainable," Mrs Ewing said. "It is so important that we do our bit."

Selwyn School pupil Fayzah Mohamed, 8, said she thought the tanks were a good idea.

"If there is not any water the plants can't grow."

The tanks are provided to schools at reduced cost thanks to support from sponsors such as the Bay Trust, EERST (Environmental Education for Resource Sustainability Trust), Devan Tanks, Pub Charities and Plumbing World.

Rotorua project manager Jason Trask said as part of the programme he would be visiting the school again to teach sustainable water usage.

He said the tanks would also be valuable for civil defence with many local schools being a public centre for natural disasters.

"You can boil the water and safely drink it."

Rotorua Girls' High School, Kreative Kidz Childcare Centre and Little Lights Kindy all received 1000-litre water tanks on Friday.

To find out more or to sign up go to www.eerst.co.nz/water-for-schools.