Schools save 31 megalitres

Bentleigh Secondary College and Sandringham Primary School are the winners of South East Water’s HydroShare pilot program.

Schools across south-east Melbourne have been able to monitor their water use in real time, and save vast amounts of water in the process of being involved in the program.

Using the HydroShare system, 45 schools in South East Water’s region have saved 31 megalitres over 12 months.

South East Water’s schools and community education coordinator Kerry Archer said HydroShare is an online, real-time monitoring and reporting system allowing schools to manage and save water, time and money.

It is a data logging device which records water use every five minutes, 24 hours a day and downloads the data onto a website for the students to monitor.

“Schools where HydroShare was used in the classroom with students reduced water use by an average of 29%,” Archer said.

“Six schools were involved in developing the curriculum and devoted teachers to the task for three days — Bentleigh Secondary College, Hillmeade Primary School, Bentleigh West Primary School, Patterson Lakes Primary School, Scoresby Secondary College and Bayswater Secondary College.”

The school with the largest overall water reduction, Bentleigh Secondary College, received $1500 towards a rainwater tank, while Sandringham Primary School received $500 for the largest reduction by a primary school.