Waterwise Schools celebrated during National Water Week

• Water Corporation's Waterwise Schools Program has run for 23 years

• Encouraging awareness of impact of climate change as part of National Water Week

What better time to celebrate teachers and students' dedication to the Water Corporation's Waterwise School Program than National Water Week - and that is exactly what happened with primary and high school students across the State this week.

The Water Corporation engaged with more than 500 students from St Joseph's Primary in Pinjarra, Camboon Primary in Noranda, Floreat Park Primary and Arbor Grove Primary in Ellenbrook, with workshops in Water Conservation and Water in Aboriginal Culture.

Pickering Brook Primary School students were the winners of the Water Corporation's Seek-A-Leak competition and students received a visit from Kep the leak detection dog to showcase her talents.

Kep also visited the Kensington Secondary School STEM afternoon and Gilmore College's recognition ceremony to become a Waterwise School.

Kondinin Primary School in the Eastern Wheatbelt this week celebrated their 10-year anniversary in the Waterwise Schools Program with a special assembly.

In the South-West, Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School was formally recognised as the State's 577th Waterwise School at a special assembly.

The Waterwise Schools Program takes a long-term approach to water education and behavioural change, and complements the curriculum across all major learning areas especially science.

Over the past 23 years, 577 Waterwise Schools have been recognised across the State, with Hillarys Primary School the first to be recognised in 1995.

Working with the community to reduce water use forms part of the Water Corporation's long-term Water Forever plans to secure water supplies in the face of climate change.

Comments attributed to Water Minister Dave Kelly:

"Teachers at Waterwise Schools have been working with the Water Corporation to educate the next generation about the importance of water for 23 years.

"Every year, thousands of students learn about water through the Waterwise Schools Program. In 2017 alone, the Water Corporation spoke to 26,680 students through its Waterwise Schools Talks. 

"When I went to school, most of Perth's water came from our dams - now half our drinking water is manufactured through desalination and groundwater replenishment.

"Most young people understand that climate change is real, so an education program about where our water comes from and why we need to treat it as a precious resource helps to nurture a generational change."