The Allan Labor Government is helping Victorian schools save billions of litres of water each year, helping cut down their water bills and preserve our precious drinking water supply.
Minister for Water Gayle Tierney today announced that the Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP) has saved more than 11 billion litres of drinking water and saved $37.9 million for schools as part of the award-winning initiative.
Last year, SWEP schools saved on average $1,800 on their water bills - that's more money that can be spent on our world-class schools.
Through SWEP, schools can track their water usage via data-loggers and an online monitoring dashboard. Staff and students are able to view their school's water use in near real-time through the interactive SWEP web portal, with the ability to identify water use trends and opportunities to save water.
Every SWEP school is provided with tailored education resources, including classroom lesson plans that incorporate the use of SWEP water data. These education resources teach students how to save water both at school and in the home and are aligned with the Victorian maths and science curriculum.
Ballarat High School is Victoria's top water-saving school, saving 11 million litres of water through the program last year.
Followed by Frankston High School 7-10 Campus where they saved 8.9 million litres, Mernda Central College saved 8.8 million litres, and Braybrook College and Greensborough Primary School both saved 5.1 million litres.
Over half of all Victorian schools have joined the $10.5 million program which is working towards signing up 100 percent of government schools by 2030.
The program is a key part of the Water for Victoria plan which is working to improve the management of our water resources, including improving water efficiency.
As stated by Minister for Water Gayle Tierney
"This fantastic program not only helps schools identify and fix water leaks and find ways to save water but teaches students the importance of saving water."
"The drought and dry conditions across Victoria highlights the importance of programs like this that are building knowledge about how we can all do more to save our precious water."
As stated by Minister Education Ben Carroll
"This is a great program that teaches students about water saving and how their actions can have a big impact saving water for their school and the rest of the community."
Top twenty School saved in 2024 Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP)
Ballarat High School - 11,030,281
Frankston High School (7-10 campus) - 8,938,104
Mernda Central College - 8,873,198
Braybrook College - 5,105,775
Greensborough Primary School - 5,105,775
Eltham College - 4,586,098
Lowanna College - 3,928,486
Rosamond Special School - 3,699,628
Balwyn High School - 3,596,920
Kyabram P12 College - 3,293,840
Catholic College Wodonga - 3,100,453
St Joseph's College - Mercy Campus - 2,802,901
Rowville Secondary College - West Campus - 2,771,773
Mount Lilydale Mercy College - 2,716,855
Firbank Grammar - Sandringham House - 2,657,205
Manor Lakes P-12 College - 2,407,561
Roslyn Primary School - 2,362,729
Damascus College Ballarat - 2,298,255
Mary Mackillop Catholic Regional College - 2,241,328
Melton West Primary School - 2,195,342
