A WATER conservation programme for schools in Penang has been officially launched today and it aims to enlist 100 primary and secondary schools to participate in it over the next three years.
Known as ‘Negalitres for Schools’, the programme is being conducted by Water Watch Penang (WWP) in collaboration with Clean International Incorporated and Intel Corporation.
The Penang government, through the Penang Green Council (PGC), Penang Water Supply Corporation (PBAPP) and Green Educators Workgroup (GREW), are among the local partners involved in the project.
WWP president Prof Dr Chan Ngai Weng said the project would span over three years targeting 100 schools in Penang from 2022 to 2024.
“It will involve a maximum of 34 schools per year, including primary and secondary level.
“The ‘Negalitres for Schools’ project involves the installation of water-saving equipment and education programme to the participating schools to reduce water consumption, thus ‘negative’ litre.
“We want to increase the effectiveness of water-saving practices among the schools in the state by teaching the students or pupils about water conservation through this programme.
“So far, a total of 40 schools have registered for this programme and we would like to encourage more schools to participate in it.
“They should not worry about the cost as the project is fully funded by Clean International Incorporated and Intel Corporation,” Dr Chan said in his speech before Chow launched the programme at Auditorium A on Level 5 in Komtar today.
Also present were PBAPP chief executive officer Datuk Jaseni Maidinsa and PGC general manager Josephine Tan.
According to Dr Chan, WWP will coordinate the entire project in terms of its implementation.
“We will be coordinating with the teacher-in-charge to arrange for a visit with PBAPP certified plumber.
“We will then identify the suitable places to instal the water-saving equipment at the school.
“Among the water-saving equipment that will be installed are ‘push-tap urinal’ for the toilet, ‘push tap’ for sink and the ‘washer’ for taps.
“Registered schools will also have to involve their students in water education programme (one-off session of two hours) conducted by WWP via online or face-to-face,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chow congratulated WWP and its strategic partners for such an initiative.
“The ‘Negalitres for Schools’ initiative is timely in view of the World Water Day that is celebrated on March 22 every year to highlight the importance of fresh water.
“The programme is in line with the state’s Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’ and the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDGs).
“I would like to take this opportunity to encourage the school headmasters or principals to participate in this programme by registering their schools, especially those which have high water bills.
“With this, they can learn more on how to conserve and use water wisely,” he said.
Interested schools can register through
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfhERpVjL93XYSad_v0Ao5zyNZJNYbJrZwc7O7SE_i21AZ7GQ/viewform (English registration form)
or
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdGl7Th6gLyeY7P4LnBGvCOo54ns2Yzzrvs7iTsvnnJL7EhkA/viewform (Bahasa Malaysia registration form).
Story by Riadz Akmal
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad
Video by Chan Kok Kuan