Northumbrian has launched an educational campaign for primary students on the importance of water in a bid to change how children think, feel and use it.
The programme, called the Ripple Effect, was designed with an education consultant as a home-schooling resource to promote water efficiency habits through interactive games, videos and activities.
The aim is to raise awareness of how precious water is, as well as why and how it can be used efficiently as part of the company’s efforts to future-proof its resources and work towards its environmental goals.
Tim Wagstaff, lead water efficiency manager at Northumbrian, explained the programme name is a nod to the impact young environmental activist Greta Thunberg has had on how people view the natural world, which has been dubbed “the Greta effect”.
“It is really important that we properly educate the next generation so that we can create positive change for the future,” Wagstaff said. “We use water for everything – cooking, cleaning, drinking, eating and it’s important we value it and not take it for granted.”
Average per capita consumption (PCC) has almost doubled in 60 years to an average of 142 litres per day, which has led to calls for a national PCC target to be included in the upcoming Environment Bill.
“As population and housing numbers are also increasing, this creates even more demand for water – showing why it is so important for our children to be taught in this way,” Wagstaff added.
The online programme aimed at 7–11-year-olds gamifies water efficiency challenges, skills and water-waste scenarios for use in classrooms, community groups or home learning.