Water saving week: Ways to save water in school

Water saving week: How to save water at School

Water saving week occurs on the 22nd of May-26th of May and is a perfect chance for SBMs to start considering and planning ways to save and conserve water in school. Water consumption is at an all-time high, especially for schools, and not long-ago UK’s reservoirs were very low.

To save water as well as money, there are many changes you can implement to help save the planet and reduce water consumption. However, this can be quite hard to do, so we have sourced ways to save water in school for you to use as a guideline and get your school on track.

5 quick wins to start this week

1. Fix leaks and running toilets (fastest and biggest saving)

2. Fit tap flow restrictors to reduce flow without affecting hygiene

3. Install dual-flush where appropriate

4. Install sensor taps in busy toilets

5. Read meters weekly and start daily checks to spot hidden leaks 

Create a water action plan

The best way you can save water for your school is by creating a water action plan. This should be the first step to take when deciding to save and conserve water. Think about how you can save water in the school and set achievable goals for different time frames.

A great way to carry your action plan out is to gather a group of staff and students who can be monitors and drivers of water consumption in the school. Work with this group to do a water audit to find all the areas of water consumption and what can be reduced.

Once this is decided you can set guidelines to best conserve water for each area. You can list what you can switch out to low-flow products and the potential savings you will make money-wise and water-wise.

Use water carefully

Make a clear message to the whole school about conserving and saving water and how to achieve this. Ensure everyone is aware of using water carefully and setting an example to staff and students by taking these steps yourself.

Steps that you and everyone can take are:

• Turning taps off promptly after washing hands

• Use half flush on toilets if you can

• Use a bucket when washing products like art supplies and dishes

• Ensuring all taps are turned off after use in areas like staff rooms, office and kitchens

You can even stock up on tap water containers for classrooms to use to ensure they don’t run taps all the time. They can hold 9 litres of water and is easily dispensed whether to wash supplies, hands or fill cups up.

To get students on board, create posters or advise your staff to get children to create posters reminding them of how to save water.

Track and measure your schools water usage

From the beginning throughout the process track your schools water usage. Find out how much water you are using in the school to give you an idea of how much you need to cut it down by. This is important to set your achievable goals. Then when you start doing the small things to reduce water consumption, carry on tracking to see where you can make improvements. By the end you will be able to see how well you have done with reducing water usage and how to continue this. Plus, you will discover what needs to be improved further.

Get water leaks repaired

You and the water conserving group in your school should check all that all water appliances are off and be vigilant for leaks. If any leak is spotted it should be reported and you should be aware of it to get it repaired as soon as possible. A single leaking toilet can waste more than 50 gallons of water. A dripping tap or shower wastes around 1000 gallons of water a day so it’s vital to get leaks repaired quickly.

Consider low flow products/eco taps to save on water

Changing to low flow products and eco taps can reduce your water consumption by over 50%. They have no negative effect on quality. If current taps stay, low-cost aerators can have the same effect. Benefits include cutting energy needed to heat water and reducing carbon emissions.

Focus on switching toilets: low flow toilets use up to 84% less water and 80% less energy than standard models. Dual flush toilets offer a shorter flush option to save water.

Purchase plugs and washing bowls

Purchase plugs and washing bowls for every sink in kitchens and classrooms. These encourage conserving water by preventing taps from running unnecessarily. When using art supplies, wash them in containers instead of under running water.

Reuse water if possible

Reuse water where possible, e.g., collect drips or roof leaks in buckets to water gardens. Use clean washing water to clean supplies or classrooms. Small changes can move your school in the right direction when it comes to conserving water usage.

Ideas to try:

• Use clean rinse water to pre-soak trays or wipe down surfaces.

• Collect rainwater for garden and grounds tasks

• Place temporary catch buckets under known drips until maintenance arrives.

Reduce water use in food preparation

Save water in kitchens by replacing water funnels with low-flow options such as sprayers. Encourage staff to brush floors more often instead of mopping to reduce water use.

Remind staff to lower water temperature when washing, e.g., using dishwashers. Dishwashers use 6 gallons per load, while washing by hand uses 3 gallons per minute. Consider water-efficient dishwashers and washing machines.

Get your school involved

Advertise your water saving mission to staff, students, and parents. Encourage participation with incentives like treat days.

Simple school-wide actions include:

• Collect rainwater with a tank for watering gardens.

• Wash in bowls instead of rinsing under taps.

• Use the correct flush on dual flush toilets, teaching students which button to press.