Ennis family rains supreme in water contest

AN Ennis family are the raining champions following success in a nationwide conservation competition.
Green-Schools, in partnership with Irish Water, recently announced the winners of its Water Conservation Photo Competition, with one of the five winning families being from Ennis.
The winning entry from Ennis was taken by Áine Purcell of her daughter Róisín and Róisín’s Grandad working together on a rainwater harvesting system.
The competition encouraged families all over Ireland to save water by asking students to do water saving activities at home, and for parents/guardians to put a photo of them on Twitter or Instagram.
The best five photos were chosen by Green-Schools, with winning families getting waterproof cameras.
Other winners for the competition this year included a system to keep plants watered in the summer; a smart way to save water when washing a car, an inventive idea to use the water from a tumble dryer for watering plants; and a family who always saves water washing their teeth.
According to Irish Water the photo competition is a chance for parents/guardians to get involved in water saving activities at home especially during the summer months when water supply can be short.
Green-Schools Manager Cathy Baxter said, “Through our water theme we encourage water saving in schools, at home, and in the community. However, parents/guardians are not always involved, and we want students to keep thinking about water saving when the schools are closed.
“The photo competition gives an opportunity for the whole family to be part of these important water saving activities and to think about them throughout the summer when it can often be most needed.
“We are very impressed with all the great water-saving activities that have been shared across social media, encouraging others to do the same.”
Geoffrey Bourke, Irish Water’s Strategy and Capability Manager, added, “We can all play our part in conserving water, whether that’s at home, in school or in the workplace.
“The inspiring ideas presented as part of this competition show the great work that is being done by students and their families all over Ireland, helping to safeguard our water for our future.”
Irish Water’s sponsorship of the Green-Schools Water Theme is in its eighth year and in that time over 2,000 schools have attended interactive workshops and Walk for Water Events.
Last year alone, Green-Schools saved over 600 million litres of water. As well as running workshops and Water Ambassador training for students, Green-Schools also runs an annual poster and video competition on a water theme.
Due to Covid-19 restrictions and school closures, the Green-Schools programme moved much of its interaction online for the school year, with new content and innovative virtual events.