Water skills taught to children

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School children are being taught to turn off taps while brushing their teeth as part of efforts to teach children where water comes from.

Many parts of east and south-east of England went in drought with hosepipe bans kicking in across affected areas with around 35m people affected by water shortages earlier in the year.

Now north west water provider, United Utilities, is launching its ‘All About Water’ programme for primary schools to educate youngsters where water comes from, and how the firm gets it to run from the tap at home.

Children in primary four and five will be taught that turning of the tap while they brush their teeth can save six litres a minute, while spending minute less in the shower can save ten litres.

Cartoons, puzzles and games are used as well as a water diary to help children remember simple things they can do around the home also like putting baby wipes, cotton buds and nappies in the bin rather than flushing them down the toilet.

Chris Mathews from United Utilities said, "Kids are naturally curious and are full of questions about the world around them. Parents and teachers can help keep that curiosity alive by finding ways to make learning about water fun and engaging.

"Hands-on experiences help kids of all ages grasp concepts and retain information.

The water firm hopes that the children will go home and encourage their parents to mend leaking taps and put enough water in the kettle for one cup of tea.

They can also compare water use with their class mates, family and friends on their social networking site to further learn about saving resources

Children are taught how United’s engineers get water from ground water levels, or catchment land and about the future problems dryer summers and wetter winters bring with climate change and the impact on keeping the taps flowing in the north west.

The company pumps 1,900 megalitres everyday into the regional network to serve a population of 7 million and around 200,000 businesses with fresh drinking water every day.

The average person uses 140 litres of water – two bathfuls - of water a day compared to 127 litres in Germany and just 10 litres in Bangladesh.

By 2012 the Government wants schools to minimise their carbon emissions and saving water is a key way they can do this said Mr Mathews.

Ministers are also keen to reduce individual usage to 130 litres per person a day.

The Warrington-base firm hopes more than 200 schools will take-up their offer in the education and learning programme.