School benefits from new water infrastructure
To date, the Woolies Water Fund has donated R10.1m towards the installation of 248 rainwater storage tanks at 136 schools across four provinces in the country.
Naidoo Memorial Primary School in Umkomaas has now got clean and consistent water for 1190 learners, as well as staff, thanks to newly installed water infrastructure.
This was made possible by the Woolies Water Fund, which has provided the school with a secure water source for drinking, sanitation and hygiene purposes.
For World Water Day earlier this year, schools were asked to nominate their Woolies School Water Hero.
Schools were asked to share their water-saving initiatives and stories, with the winning school receiving a water storage infrastructure system with filtration and a handwashing station.
This year, 100 schools took part, and Naidoo Memorial won.
“The Naidoo Memorial Primary School, established in January 1936, has frequently been left dry due to inconsistent municipal supply and no storage capacity,” explained Illana Abrahams, Woolworths’ Making the Difference national operations manager.
“Lack of water has inhibited the school’s mission to deliver high-quality education to the children of Umkomaas.”
Through the Making the Difference programme, Woolworths installed two water tanks at the school with a combined capacity of 20 000l, upgraded the roof gutters to allow for the free flow of rainwater to the tanks, and includes new handwashing stations and filtration systems.
“The project is aimed at enhancing the learning environment and could help the school save on its water bill,” added Abrahams.
The school’s acting principal, Joseph Periah, is grateful for this opportunity.
“This has come at a really opportune time as we are constantly facing a water crisis in our community. A consistent water source will enable our teaching and learning to continue uninterrupted and help us maintain our high standards of high-quality education,” said Periah.
Naidoo Memorial educator Merushka Singh stated that prior to the installation of the rainwater tanks, the school relied on intermittent municipal water supply, which often left them without water for extended periods.
This affected their ability to maintain proper hygiene and sanitation standards.
“The rainwater tanks will be a game-changer,” she said.
HAVE YOUR SAY
Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram
