Lessons in water use

By Melissa Meehan
STUDENTS across Yarra Valley Water’s service area will receive a valuable lesson about water conservation when school returns next term.
Water – Learn it! Live it! (Water LILI) is a free education program aimed at primary and secondary schools which encourages them to include water conservation lessons in the classroom.
Yarra Valley Water managing director Tony Kelly said the kit would give schools new ideas and tools needed to teach students about the importance of saving water.
“We are currently facing extreme drought and the reality of climate change which will pose long-term challenges for our young people,” Mr Kelly said.
“The Water – Learn it! Live it! program encourages students to save water in their homes and schools.
“Young people face a drier future and we want to teach them water conservation habits for life.”
The new resource provides a framework for schools to include water conservation lessons in all areas of the curriculum.
It also incorporates the new Victorian Essential Learning Standards and current learning theories.
“Younger students might learn about how water is used in the community while older students might tackle more challenging projects like researching the impacts of drought or developing water saving technologies,” Mr Kelly said.
“Many schools already involved in the program have incorporated water conservation lessons in really innovative ways, including students carrying out a school water audit, hosting water forums and planting drought tolerant gardens.”
Water – Learn it! Live it! has been developed by Melbourne’s four water authorities, Yarra Valley Water, City West Water, South East Water, and Melbourne Water.
More than 190 Melbourne schools have signed up since it was launched two years ago.
Schools can to become accredited as a Water – Learn it! Live it! school by working through a series of milestones.
More than 100 schools have achieved accreditation, including two reaching ‘gold’ level accreditation.
Schools need to reduce their water use, incorporate water conservation lessons across all grades and promote water conservation messages to their local community to achieve the top ‘gold’ level accreditation.
“I encourage all schools in the local area to get involved in the Water – Learn it! Live it! program.
“It is essential for our next generation to start their lives with sustainable water habits,” Mr Kelly said.