Pune: From installing water-saving fixtures to tracking use and exploring wastewater reuse, city schools are stepping up water conservation efforts as once-week supply cut kicks in and longer shortages loom. Many have also urged students to become more mindful of their water use.Schools said their immediate focus was on preventing wastage, optimising available supplies and preparing for the period till the next monsoon. Many are also involving students directly in conservation initiatives rather than leaving the responsibility solely to management and maintenance teams.At The Orbis School in Mundhwa, conventional taps have been replaced with pressmatic faucets to reduce wastage, while regular inspections are conducted to detect leaks. Maintenance staff closely monitor consumption and students are encouraged to turn off taps promptly and use only the water they need.“Students conducting laboratory experiments are reminded to use water judiciously. Cleaning staff have been told to limit water use to essential purposes, including mopping and drinking, during periods of shortage,” teacher Tincy Simon Kaliparambil said.The school also encouraged students to report leaking taps, discourage water wastage among peers and reuse leftover drinking water for plants at home.Vidya Valley School has launched its ‘Pani Bachao’ initiative, focusing on reducing consumption and increasing wastewater reuse. Director Ipsita Rodricks said the school was working towards installing flow-control devices across its plumbing network and exploring a 2,000-litre storage tank to collect RO reject water from the canteen for non-potable uses.The school also plans to install meters to track borewell inflow, campus-wide consumption and treated water output from its sewage treatment plant. Data collected over the next nine months will help identify inefficiencies and improve water management. “Our long-term aspiration is to become a tanker-mukt campus by progressively reducing reliance on tanker-supplied water through conservation, efficient use and responsible reuse,” Rodricks said, adding that safe drinking water and sanitation would remain non-negotiable.At St Mary’s School, awareness sessions on responsible water use have been intensified following the announcement of water cuts. Std X student Shravani Joshi said she would ensure taps were turned off whenever she spotted one running. “Even a small amount wasted by each person adds up,” she said.Another student, Pinak Kothari, said he intended to use only the water he needed and reuse leftover water from his bottle for plants. “We should not wait for a shortage to start saving water,” he said.From fixing leaks and tracking consumption to encouraging behavioural change among children, schools hope that small but sustained efforts can help ease pressure on Pune’s strained water resources.
