It’s never too early to learn about the importance of water, as young participants in an innovative project have found.
THREE water-conscious local primary schools have won cash prizes for monitoring the quality of water in their areas.
Joburg GDS 2040The prizes were awarded by the City at a ceremony at the Johannesburg Botanical Gardens, Emmarentia, on Thursday 22 September. First prize of R15 000 was scooped by Ikage Primary School from Alexandra, Kensington Primary School walked away with R7 500, while Khomanani Primary School, Diepkloof, won R5 000.
The project coincided with United Nations World Water Monitoring Day, an international education and outreach programme that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world by encouraging citizens to conduct basic monitoring of local bodies of water. This year’s theme was “Water for the cities: responding to urban challenge”.
Although the day is officially celebrated on 18 September each year, the City integrated this year’s prizegiving with the Growth Development Strategy (GDS) 2040 environmental week. The competition, supported by the City’s environmental management department in partnership with City Parks, Joburg Zoo and Rand Water, was launched at the Joburg Zoo on 11 May, with seven primary schools selected from regions A to G, participating.
Water monitoring
Learners monitored their local water bodies on a monthly basis, taking samples and testing temperature, acidity, clarity and dissolved oxygen, using simple test kits. They were helped by environmental specialists who visited the schools to explain how to collect water-quality data.
Kensington Primary School came second to scoop R7 500Kensington Primary School came second to scoop R7 500The learners were also briefed on the procedures for carrying out a basic flora and fauna survey using the South African Scoring system. These data were used to determine the state of a selected stretch of river and learners were required to make recommendations about how the current state of the river might be improved.
A feature of the award ceremony was an entertaining production by the EMS drama group on the importance of saving water.Joburg’s head of community development, Chris Vondo, said the competition was intended to promote environmental education and awareness among young people.
“Many people are unaware of the impact their behaviours have on the water quality. Conducting simple monitoring tests teaches participants about some of the most important indicators of water health and encourages further participation in more formal monitoring efforts.”
Vondo explained that the programme helps young people develop a sense of environmental responsibility, which is essential to the protection of the environment.
“It is the absence of this responsibility which is causing problems on our environment – in rivers, wetlands water wastage in streets, residential areas and other public spaces,” he said, adding that the programme will assist the City to craft mitigation and rehabilitation measures to resolve problems around watercourses.
Save water
MMC Chris Vondo helps learners plant a treeMMC Chris Vondo helps learners plant a treeCity Parks acting managing director Geoffrey Cooke emphasised the importance to the city of saving water.
After the ceremony some of the children joined Vondo and Cooke in planting a macadamia nut tree in the park.
Busang Sehwelo, a teacher at Ikage school, which took water samples from the Jukskei River, said the programme helped boost awareness of water quality issues. “We feel privileged at winning this prize but this did not come easily as we were technically challenged,” said Sehwelo. “Our water metering system was not working, but this did not deter us from conducting tests.”
Some of the ideas suggested by Ikage to protect the river from pollution included fencing it, instituting 24-hour security and establishing restaurants at places along its banks.
The other schools that participated in the competition and received certificates of recognition were Tsosane, Ivory Park; Julius Sebolai, Bram Fisherville; Refalletsi, Orange Farm; and Wilhelmina Hoskins, Riverlea.
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