Barwon Water helps identify leaking irrigation system in school

Barwon Water is continuing to help schools identify water leaks through its Schools’ Water Efficiency Program (SWEP), with the installation of data-loggers finding a leaking irrigation system in one school.

Currently, 86 schools in the Barwon region in Victoria are participating in the free program.

Since starting in 2012, the Victorian government’s SWEP program has saved over a billion litres of water in Barwon Water’s service region, saving schools a combined total of $3.4 million on their bills since 2012.

Program participant Mirripoa Primary School has saved drinking water and money on water bills after joining the program. After the installation of data-loggers as part of the program, the school has tracked their water use via an online monitoring dashboard, helping to identify a leaking irrigation system.

Barwon Water was able to further assist the school by providing a $3,000 grant to help cover plumbing costs and assist with the extra water costs sustained while the system was leaking.

Barwon Water General Manager of Customers, Community and Strategy, Laura Kendall, said she was pleased the program could help another school save water and money on their bills.

“Water leaks result in high water losses and higher water bills. Early detection is vital to saving drinking water and money,” Ms Kendall said.

Mirripoa Primary School Business Manager, Ingrid Polwarth, said that joining the SWEP had been beneficial in lots of ways.

“The irrigation system was leaking and was costing the school money through large water bills. There was so much expense involved when the irrigation system needed fixing, we were so grateful to Barwon Water for the grant to help us pay for it,”  Ms Polwarth said.

“It is great to be part of the SWEP program, we can detect leaks quickly and it also provides the students the opportunity to learn about water efficiency and how important it is.”

More information about the SWEP grants program can be found at www.barwonwater.vic.gov.au/community-and-education/teachers-and-students/swep.

Feature image (L-R): Laura Kendall, General Manager Customers, Community and Strategy at Barwon Water with Jake Dowsett, Mirripoa Primary School Acting Assistant Principal, along with school captains Milla and James. Provided by Barwon Water.

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