[ Home ] [ Speeches & statements ]

The National Water Conservation Campaign's 2020 Vision of Water Competition was won by the Prestige College in Hammanskraal. Professor Kader Asmal, MP, Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry, will award the first prize of R5 000-00 to the principal of the school, Mrs Thana Pienaar, on 11 November 1996.

The prize money has to be used for educational materials and equipment with an environmental theme. A large number of schools participated in the competition and the entries were of a high standard.

According to Minister Asmal, inviting children to be part of the National Water Conservation Campaign through the competition was crucial to the success of promoting water conservation. They have open minds about difficult choices which impact on their lives.

Other schools that entered will each receive ten water testing kits as consolation prizes and a motivation to be involved in future competitions which will have water conservation as a theme.

The function will be attended by principals, teachers and pupils from neighbouring schools. There will also be exhibitions concerning water tests and the "water-wheelbarrow". The college is environmentally aware and will be expected to share its knowledge with and inspire other schools in the area to spread information on water conservation. This school has, for its own account, constructed a sewage purification plant as well as an irrigation system for the gardens.

The Prestige College recently presented two other water projects at the Regional Expo for Young Scientists held at the University of Pretoria where they were awarded with a gold and a silver medal for the projects. Four group projects, each with three participants were conducted. The project on "Comparative Water Analysis" involved the analysis of the school's drinking water and its comparison with local borehle water. The experiments concluded that the drinking water of Hammanskraal is of a high quality.

The other three projects namely water purification, extraction of sodium from sodium hydroxide and iodine clock experiment each obtained a silver medal. Taking into account the number of projects entered by this school against the overall number of participants from other schools, this becomes an outstanding achievement.

Issued by: Department of Water Affairs and Forestry
Enquiries: Joseph Nhlapo Tel. (012) 299-2523
Marie Ashpole Tel. (012) 299-2526

<EOD>