Schools water tour flushed with success

Sunday 06 December 2020

Primary school pupils have been learning about Guernsey’s water network and wastewater, as well as what items shouldn’t be going down the toilet and sink.

As part of Guernsey Water’s first schools’ roadshow, Years 5 and 6 pupils from four primary schools were given the opportunity to take part in a ‘lucky yucky dip’, removing items routinely found in the island’s drains such as tennis balls, food, cutlery and clothing, from an actual toilet.

The pupils looked around Guernsey Water’s CCTV vehicle, which remotely controls a robotic camera that is placed into drains and sewers to check for damage and blockages, which are mainly caused by a build up of fats, oils, grease and wet wipes. 

Pictured: Pupils got to try out the robotic camera themselves. 

Guernsey Water left the pupils at Forest, La Houguette, St Mary and St Michael and Melrose schools with an experiment to show how four items – toilet paper, disposable wet wipes, flushable wet wipes and biodegradable wet wipes – degrade when left in jars of water. 

“This has been the first time we have visited local schools to talk about wastewater and our sessions have been fun and interactive," said Guernsey Water Communications Officer Catherine Boughay.

"Having a real toilet to illustrate the bizarre items that have been found in our drainage network is a great way to engage the pupils and help them to see why those should be disposed of properly – and why pee, poo and paper are the only things that should be going into the network. The experiment will help them see that certain products don’t break down in water and to illustrate why this matters.

Pictured: Some of the likely and unlikely objects which can sometimes cause damage and blockages to drainage systems. 

“At the heart of our presentation is the message that we all have to take care of our water network and drainage systems."

The schools’ initiative is part of a long-term campaign entitled ‘Let’s be clear’, with a view to developing a greater understanding of why it’s important to keep drains clear. Guernsey Water has created characters based around wet wipes and ‘fatbergs’ which were a feature of the presentation to pupils.

Guernsey Water hopes to visit more primary schools in the New Year. 

Pictured top: La Houguette Primary School pupils took part in a 'lucky yucky dip'.