School wins water award


07 November 2012 | last updated at 11:30PM

By OLIVIA MIWIL | olivia@nst.com.my 


TOP PRIZE: Maintaining 21 tanks reduces monthly bill from RM3,000 to RM1,000

PENAMPANG: SEKOLAH Menengah St Michael has yet another feather in its cap now that they have won another water tank at the national-level Water Vision Award, here, yesterday.
Since 2009, the school has maintained 21 water tanks to harvest rainwater, helping to reduce its tri-monthly water bill from RM3,000 to RM1,000.
Its principal, Marie Yong Pik Hua, said the harvested water was used for toilets, cleaning and watering plants at the school.
"In the future, we are looking into recycling used rainwater for other purposes.
"But for now, our school's main concern is to educate students about conserving water at school and applying the knowledge at home," she said after receiving the prize.
Political secretary to Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Philip Lasimbang, after officiating at the conference, said the average Malaysian used 200 litres of water a day, while Singaporeans only utilised half of that.
"I am not asking consumers not to use the commodity at all, but we should minimise the usage.
"By doing so, we can also save costs in treating water."
The school was among 17 schools in state actively involved in the Malaysian Nature Society's Water Vision project this year. The project started in 2009 and is aimed at encouraging and inculcating water stewardship practices among young Malaysians.
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Marie Yong Pik Hua (right) and Datuk Philip Lasimbang (centre) unveil a signboard signifying the school’s partnership with the Malaysian Nature Society yesterday.

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