Save water in your school

Having a good understanding of how your school uses water is the first step in reducing water use. You will find the tools you need to audit your water use and get students involved in water conservation.

Here are 4 key steps to help your school save water:

1. Conduct a simple water audit

Conducting a water audit at your school can reduce water wastage by helping you identify areas where water is being used and working out ways to minimise this wastage.

First watch this video on how to complete a simple water audit in your school. 

Read a transcript of this video (new window)

We have developed a guide to accompany the video with simple worksheets for students to complete and write a report for the principal.

Download school water audit teacher guide

Reading your water meter/s regularly helps to identify any changes in your water use over time and can act as a trigger for maintenance. Use our weekly water use spreadsheet to record your school's water use by reading your water meter on a regular basis. Enter the data collected from the meter reading into the spreadsheet, which will automatically graph your water use, providing a visual guide that will help you compare weekly water use.

Weekly water use spreadsheet

2. Create a 'green team'

Create a sustainability group or committee of students, teachers, parents and community members if you can. Sharing the load is easier and more fun! Make sure water is included as a key priority in your school development plan each year. Report achievements to the P&C and school assemblies to really bring everyone along on the journey.

3. Staff training

We run free school gardener training sessions and offer water audit training sessions during the year.  Some of these are in person and some of them are available online. Why not up skill your staff?  

Waterwise training courses

4. Waterwise Schools Program

Becoming part of our award winning Waterwise Schools Program is one of the most fun things your school can do and it costs you nothing. The program focuses on teaching about water, spreading the waterwise message into your community and celebrating National Water Week.  For tips on how to join the program or stay active in the program see Waterwise Schools Program.