Schools may get grants to store rainwater

SCHOOLS in Cork may benefit from grants enabling them to harvest, store and use rainwater, thus dramatically cutting hefty bills they will have to pay for using the mains supply.

Since controversial school water charges were announced there has been an outcry from staff and parents alike. But there may be a solution.

Cork county manager Martin Riordan said the council would be prepared to provide grants for water-saving equipment at schools if the Departments of Education and Environment failed to do so.

He made his comments after two councillors proposed that the local authority come to the rescue of schools, some of which have received bills of up to €40,000.

Cllr Jim Daly (FG), a former primary school principal, wanted the council to provide 61 post-primary schools with a one-off grant of €5,000 each to purchase water harvesting equipment.

“A water harvesting system is ideal for schools that have very large roof surfaces and which could collect hundreds of thousands of litres of water per annum. We are living in a country which has between 1,000 and 1,200 millimetres of rainfall per year,” he said.

He added that while the water would not be suitable for drinking it would still provide up to 80% of a school’s needs.

Cllr Andrias Moynihan (FF) accused Mr Daly of robbing a motion he had recently put before the County VEC. “It’s an exact replica of that motion,” said Mr Moynihan.

Mr Moynihan said harvesting water and using pumps to divert it to sinks/toilets would be a good “green” example to children.

Cllr Pat Buckley (FG), who works for a company involved in water harvesting, said he had spoken to Minister for the Environment John Gormley on the matter.

The county manager said he would look “very positively” on grant-aiding the introduction of such technology

However, he said he would only make funds available to schools that had beenactive in preventing water wastage by repairing leaks.