WATER SUCCESS FOR SHEPPEY STUDENTS

Students from the Isle of Sheppey Academy have been highly commended in a pioneering new programme to reduce water waste and inspire people to use water more wisely.

The Water Design Challenge which was run by Southern Water and the Design Council, challenged students from five schools across the south to use design techniques to come up with innovative ways to save water around their school and in the wider community.

Helped by professional designer John Corcoran from Wire Design in London and experts from Southern Water, the school developed their ideas and presented their pitch to judges at an award ceremony at Bewl Water reservoir in Kent.

Their design, the D’rain Water Collection System, impressed the judges, including Designer Wayne Hemingway, Darren Bentham from Southern Water, Rose Timlett from the WWF and David Godber from the Design Council, because it was a very practical solution that collected wasted water for use around the school. The team made protoypes to show how gutters and collections tanks would be made from recycled materials such as old plastic school chairs and showed how it would fit in with building work already underway at the school.

The school were presented with a cheque by the MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey Gordon Henderson. The students plan to spend the £3,000 from Southern Water on new technology to bring their design to life.

Mr Henderson said “ We live in a water stressed area, so it important we educate our young people about the problem. Getting them to design a water saving device is excellent.”

David Meaning, Deputy Head of Shurland at the Isle of Sheppey Academy, said: “Watching our students grow in confidence throughout this project has been amazing. The professional way in which the celebration day was organised created a positive sense of occasion. Add to that the fact that the judges and people from the "real world" took their ideas seriously has had a lasting impact on the students. The looks on their faces when the prizes were announced were indeed priceless.”

Darren Bentham, Director of Metering at Southern Water, said: “The standard of the entries and the enthusiasm we saw from the students was outstanding. The Isle of Sheppey Academy’s idea really tackled the issue at hand. They had obviously done a great deal of research and came up with a solution that was practical and sustainable.”

Wayne Hemmingway said: “There were some excellent ideas. This project has worked as the kids want to spread the word. They were totally engaged and have obviously got so much out of it.”

David Godber added: “It was truly amazing! From the world’s smallest water museum to rainwater harvesting in the playground and a whole stack of innovative campaigns.  These students came up with outstanding ideas for harvesting and conserving water resources.”

Southern Water and the Design Council now plan to roll out the programme to schools across the region.

Visit www.waterdesignchallenge.com to read the blogs from the students throughout the challenge.