The Schools Water Efficiency Program

Institutions, especially schools, can be major users of water. The likelihood of leaks and water wastage due to faulty taps and toilets is relatively high in this sector. Detecting leaks early can help save precious water resources and also save the schools money.

Assessing the impact of leaks

Since 2020, researchers at the UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures (ISF) have been working with schools across the state of Victoria on the Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP). The researchers have developed an R-based model to calculate the impact of leaks using data collected from smart meters installed in the schools. The model is used to know where leaks occur, when they started and when they were fixed. This information is used to calculate the volume of the water lost because of the leak and the potential volume of water saved by detecting and repairing it. Using the tariff schedule for each local water utility, the cost of the water lost and the value of the saved water is also calculated.

This was not without its challenges. In developing the model, the researchers needed to account for regular incidences of high-volume water use – such as night-time irrigation – to avoid attributing them to leaks and classifying them as wasted water. The model additionally needed to distinguish between water loss through leaks and water lost through wastage such a taps not turned off.

The model is used by ISF researchers to produce quarterly report for schools that clearly show accurate account of where their water is going, and an estimate of the volume and dollars saved through the leak alert initiative.

A row of children in school uniforms sit on a wall with their legs dangling. You can only see them from the waist down. One holds a bottle of water.

Teaching the next generation and communities how to save water

The program offers schools the opportunity to teach their students about the importance of saving resources and the ways this can be done. Students have access to the smart meters in their schools and can see in real-time via an online portal where water is being used and whether leaks are present. This presents an engaging, interactive learning experience that encourages children to consider and value efficiency as an important consideration for the future.

Additionally, the information contained in ISF's quarterly reports can be used by schools for advertising and community engagement materials, which build community awareness of water-saving initiatives. This has the potential to act as an incentive for further adoption of such behaviours in commercial, residential and institutional settings.

Taking SWEP to the next level

SWEP began as an initiative in selected schools across Victoria and since then has expanded to include more schools in the state. In 2020, the program had more than 1,270 participants and that number is steadily growing.

Since its inception, the program – which is managed by Yarra Valley Water on behalf of the Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning in Victoria – has attracted tech partner Vic Facilities, and the Department has plans to expand the program to include schools in other Australian states.

As the project scales, so does the impact of water-efficient schools – and efficiency-awareness in our communities – on Australia's sustainable future.