St Benedict’s College has taken action to help answer the call to save water.
The school’s marketing manager Ms Chantelle Burgin said the country has hit one of its driest periods. This has raised awareness around the conservation of water sources, she said.
The school hopes that its steps towards conservation will have a big impact over time.
St Benedict’s constantly monitors its 35-hectare campus for leaking taps, leaking drinking fountains and leaking cisterns, and reports and rectifies this problem promptly.
“We are blessed to have two boreholes on the property. These are used to water the sports fields and extensive gardens. We will be installing a number of Jo-Jo tanks that will harvest rainwater in the future. The watering of the property with borehole water is timed for early in the morning or evenings,” said Ms Burgin.
She said water-efficient landscaping also helps the school to conserve water outdoors.
“We try to choose plants that are native to the area, to help reduce the need for irrigation. Most indigenous plants can survive on the natural rainfall in the area, since they are accustomed to the climate. Where possible, we surround the plants with mulch, to help them retain moisture. This reduces the amount of watering necessary to keep the ground moist. We also employ a water-wise sprinkler system and check our water meters or water bills regularly to locate any irregular water consumption,” said Ms Burgin.
Ms Burgin said ground cover such as rubber or synthetic grass under the playground equipment reduces the need for irrigation. It also keeps learners safer should they fall down.
“The school has an extensive water conservation awareness campaign, which encourages the teachers to discuss the benefits of conserving water and ways the learners can get involved in using less water,” she said.
