Students at RSG De Borgen come up with the best idea for sustainable water management in Groningen
Over the past few weeks, some 400 students from Technasium schools in Groningen, Friesland, and Drenthe have been working on a plan to use household water in a more sustainable and circular way. Today, the winning teams from each school competed for the provincial title by presenting their ideas to a jury of administrators and policymakers at Wildlands Adventure Zoo in Emmen. Students from RSG De Borgen won the prize for the best idea in sustainable water management in Groningen with their concept for an underground filter for shower water. The winning group devised a system where shower water passes through a natural filter and is stored in an underground reservoir for reuse. The fact that this solution is easily scalable, well-thought-out, and climate-adaptive was the deciding factor.
Showering, cleaning, flushing the toilet, watering the garden: we use a lot of water in and around our homes. Just like other resources, water is becoming increasingly scarce, and we need to think carefully about how we manage it now and in the future. Local and national governments are doing this, but it’s also important to think about what you can do yourself. That’s why students from the four northern water boards and the three provinces were given the assignment to think about the (re)use of household water.
Filtering and reusing shower water
Over the past few weeks, the young people conducted extensive research into the water cycle and water usage in and around the home. They then had to use their technical skills to design a product and study consumer behavior, as the assignment also included creating a campaign to raise awareness of their plan for the circular use of water. It wasn’t an easy task, but the young people rose to the challenge! The jury, which included dyke reeve van der Schaaf of Noorderzijlvest Water Authority Groningen Provincial Executive Member Melissa van Hoorn, was impressed by all the creativity. “Events like this give young people a voice in the climate solutions of the future. And today, too, it became clear just how creative young people are; all the designs and campaigns challenge us to use household water differently. They’re all winners!” said Melissa van Hoorn.
Young people can make a difference
The clients believe it is important for young people to realize that they themselves can make a difference. Roeland van der Schaaf adds: “I enjoy thinking about the future with young people, a future that affects them so directly. Water has always been taken for granted in our country, and as a result, we haven’t always appreciated its value. I also want to view a climate-adaptive world as an opportunity. That’s why the value of water is an interesting topic for young people.”
You can find everything about "Learning About Water" atwww.noorderzijlvest.nl/leren-over-water