28 October 2024
Cobram and District Specialist School has become the newest member of Goulburn Valley Water’s fast growing Water Only program during a National Water Week launch that involved 60 staff and students.
There are now more than 80 members registered with the health focused program, including a dozen primary and secondary schools, 55 pre-schools, nine workplaces and eight playgroups.
Students and staff from all of these organisations have made a commitment to make water their beverage of choice during school and working hours.
Goulburn Valley Water Managing Director Dr Steve Capewell said apart from the obvious health benefits of consuming water, there were several other reasons for organisations to become involved in the Water Only program.
“While reducing the amount of sugary drinks in our diets is important, there are also the economic and environmental benefits of having water as your ‘beverage of choice’.
"Tap water is value for money. For the same price as a $2 drink from the shop Goulburn Valley Water customers can get more than 6000 cups of water. Then there is the environmental factor.
“It takes a lot of energy, and water, to produce sugary drinks and bottled water – not to mention the packaging, transport and refrigeration. Over 50 per cent of plastic bottles end up as landfill and bottles can take up to 1000 years to break down,” Dr Capewell said.
The Cobram event was made all the more special by the fact Moira Shire and the Goulburn Valley Landcare Network joined forces with Goulburn Valley Water to host a variety of school aged activities.
Cobram Specialist School Business Manager, Denise Ross, said staff were always looking for ways of contributing to the health of the 62 students.
“We can see the link between a reduced sugar diet and concentration levels for our students, so water only is a simple way of introducing this message to students.
“Our school also has a big focus on waste management, so the fact that we are drinking from reusable containers reduces our contribution to landfill. This partnership with Goulburn Valley Water will further enhance our students’ knowledge of our local water system and the importance of saving water and staying hydrated,” she said.
GVW Education staff Lizzi Lewis and Kristy Elrington welcomed the involvement of the groups to spread the health and environment messaging associated with Water Only.
Benefits for schools involved in Water Only include the addition of a participation sign on the school fence, a launch event like the one at Cobram and the benefit of Goulburn Valley Water resources for future messaging and campaigns with students, families and staff.
For more information about the Water Only program and how to become involved visit Water Only Program | Goulburn Valley Water (gvwater.vic.gov.au)