Scoil Bhríde Naofa in Kildare has an enrollment of 513 pupils ranging in age from 4 to 13 years. The school tried to introduce as much variety as possible into their programme e.g. field trips, exploration, investigation, data collecting, surveying as well as involvement in as many curriculum areas as possible. These included:
Investigating the schools water meter with the help of the caretaker.
Creating awareness of water wastage -having a "hunt" to toilets.
Appointing "Water Squad" with representatives from each class to report running or leaking taps/toilets.
Water action month - all classes. Begin water themes and projects and experiments.
Putting litre bottles of water in toilet cisterns and Mecon water saving devices in the teacher toilets.
Sending survey to 300 families regarding water awareness – results graphed by pupils.
Trip to Ballymore Eustace water treatment plant and ensuing project .
Field Trip to Monasterevin to study the Barrow River, Grand Canal, Aqueduct bridge, purity of water, life in the water, workings of a lifting bridge and lock.
Visit to Kildare Chilling meat plant with view to organising a study of water usage and awareness in the factory. (It was discovered the plant uses 100,000 gallons of water/day).
Water Study at St. Brigid's well and Tully Spring.
Field Trip to Pollardstown Fen to study Fen and Natural Springs
Three day canal study in association with Kelt.
Pupils have completed the following wall projects and mounted displays.
Water treatment plant at Ballymore Eustace.
The effects of water pollution and water treatment.
Aquatic food chains.
Antique corner about washing in Grandparents Day.
Art displays on Rivers and Sea life.
The pupils made graphs on survey results, weekly rainfall, and the amount of water used at home in a day. Calculations (based on water meter) are made of the amount of water consumed in the school per fortnight. Further calculations that have been made include the amount of toilet flushes per week per pupil in the school, and the amount of water used while washing paint brushes.
A thorough and extensive examination was made of the school building and pupils identified all the areas where water is used and determined how it might be conserved or used to best effect in these areas. It was noted that there were:
48 toilets
4 radiators in each classroom
16 radiators in corridors
4 radiators in staff areas
6 radiators in the hall
78 sinks
As a result of this investigation the pupils discovered that of the 48 toilets, 11 of them were leaking, which was almost ¼ of them. All are now fixed and functioning correctly. They discovered 2 leaking taps, which have since been fixed.
The pupils made their own water filter using a 2-litre plastic bottle, cotton wool, gravel, sand and filter paper. The filter was used to remove leaves, mud and other debris from water.