Publications - Inside Peel August 2005

Water Smart Kids

by Kathy Sims

Most children have never thought about the source of their tap water or what happens to the dirty water they send down the drain.

As part of our education and outreach, employees from Public Works’ Business and Information Services division conduct hundreds of classroom presentations about water. Using 3-D models, videos, songs and games, we cover the water cycle, water and wastewater treatment, water protection and efficiency.

We always ask, “Where does the water come from when you turn on the tap? Where does it go when you flush the toilet?”

The most common response to these questions is, “It comes from the ocean and goes back again!”

It is always rewarding to see the wheels in students’ heads turning as they begin to put the whole picture together and grasp the fact that water impacts nearly every aspect of their lives. As that hits home, they better understand the importance of keeping our water clean and using it wisely.

I love the unadulterated optimism of the younger children. When asked how to use water more efficiently, their imaginations know no bounds. They have not yet learned to reject possible solutions based on financial or engineering limits.

I try to encourage children who ask particularly insightful questions to carry their inquisitive, open-minded attitudes into adulthood.

Regional Government