Roberta Bellini
Sharing research findings with the wider public is one of the objectives of the Dŵr Uisce project. In particular, engaging youth in activities that are educational but at the same time interactive, fun and stimulating, offers the opportunity to explore environmental issues and to appreciate innovative solutions. Furthermore, using a place-based learning approach in designing learning events, learners can connect the different topics and themes to their locality from an environmental, geographical and historical point of view. Embracing this educational challenge, the Dŵr Uisce Team, in collaboration with Blackstairs Group Water Scheme (GWS), looked at ways of presenting the recently installed pump-as-turbine (PAT) system at an age appropriate level to which the children could relate and link to their own lives and experiences.
Following installation of an innovative pump-as-turbine energy recovery system at Blackstairs GWS, the Dŵr Uisce team had planned to organise in-school workshops and site visits to the water treatment plant (WTP) for all three local primary schools served by the scheme: Rathnure National School, Caim National School and Donard National School. However, COVID-19 restrictions intervened. Undeterred, the team, in collaboration with Blackstairs GWS and local teachers, designed and delivered an online experience for primary school pupils. On May 31st 2021, the first three webinars were delivered to children of 4th, 5th and 6th class in Rathnure National School, Co. Wexford (Ireland).
The webinars explored the water cycle, the water-energy nexus, the history and technical details of the Blackstairs GWS, and the innovative role of the pump-as -turbine system. To compensate for not physically seeing the WTP and for the lack of in-person interaction, each webinar included some fun and engaging activities and visualisation tools to help the children to connect with their locality, reflect on their water use behaviour and its consequences on the current climate crisis.
Dr. Roberta Bellini, a Trinity-based team member, introduced the webinar ‘THINK WATER = THINK ENERGY’ and the Dŵr Uisce project. Dr. Bellini facilitated a group activity looking at what actions using water the children had carried out in the past 24hrs to immerse the children in the topic. To bridge with the second part of the presentation, the children were guided through the natural water cycle using an enquiry learning approach.
From here, Ms. Dympna Skelton, Manager at Blackstairs GWS, presented an overview of the history of the Scheme, its geographical layout and its technical details such as pipe network, water treatment process and metering, and of the approach to climate action taken by the Scheme’s board of management. In particular, Ms. Skelton noted the collaboration between Blackstairs GWS and EPS, the WTP operator, to donate the financial savings arising from the Dŵr Uisce energy recovery system to the Wells of Life Ireland charity providing drinking water wells to rural communities in Uganda.
Figure 1: Ms Skelton presenting the Blackstairs Group Water schemes to the children in Rathnure Primary School
To replace the site visit, pictures of the WTP were used throughout. A simple but very effective Google Earth image illustrated the hydrological contribution zone, pipes and other elements of the network in relation to the Rathnure school (Figure 2). When an image of a cartographic map of the network was presented, the children were able to position local places in relation to pipes, tanks and the whole network. The children were tasked to trace the pipes carrying water from the WTP to the schools in the area on a simplified map. Finally, they were encouraged to reflect on the need for energy to perform the different activities they had listed at the start of the webinar through a discussion and a group activity.
Figure 2: Google Earth project showing the Blackstairs Mountain, some of the BGWS features and Rathnure N. S.
To illustrate the part played by Blackstairs GWS in climate action, Ms Skelton invited to Dr. Daniele Novara, a Trinity-based Dŵr Uisce team member, to discuss the innovation enabling the carbon footprint reduction of the water treatment operation. Dr. Novara explained the underlying principles and technical details of the PAT-based energy recovery system, using diagrams and a picture of the actual PAT in place in Blackstairs. He concluded with the environmental and monetary saving realised by the scheme, highlighting the positive local and global impacts. The children came to understand how the monetary savings of the first 12 months of operation of the PAT-based system arose and were donated to Wells of Life Ireland. They were proud of the socially-responsible connection between their local community and another in Uganda.
The children were wonderfully curious as they engaged in the webinar. They asked highly pertinent and detailed questions including the dimensions and costs of the PAT system, the length of time required from ideation to implementation, and the replicability of the scheme elsewhere. They were curious to know if there were other PAT systems in water networks in Ireland and, on learning that Blackstairs GWS currently operates the only one, it sparked in the most entrepreneurial children the idea for a potential tourist attraction!
Feedback from children and their teachers has been extremely positive: they praised the group activities and the use of maps and aerial views for stimulating learning, critical thinking and creating a link with the local area.
The Dŵr Uisce Team thoroughly enjoyed the engagement experience and we hope to deliver the webinar in two other local schools in the near future.