Can you beat the timer water challenge for Coffs Harbour
Published on 03 July 2024
Coffs Harbour primary school children will be empowered to make their families think differently about water use on the back of a novel initiative driven by City of Coffs Harbour.
‘The Big Splash Water Saving Challenge’ will kick off in August as part of a three-month educational campaign around a resource that is fundamental to life.
“Water is a critical commodity which every one of us needs – and it’s something we should value even in a location such as ours where we record good rainfall in most years,” City of Coffs Harbour Mayor Paul Amos said.
The project will see the City provide four-minute sand timers to 1,000 local youngsters to use in their shower at home.
“It’s been shown that kids can positively influence their family’s behaviours so that’s the thinking behind this initiative,” Cr Amos said.
The children and their family will be challenged with ‘Can you beat the timer’ by keeping a shower to less than four minutes.
“It’s believed people spend seven to eight minutes on average showering, so this will be a stretch – but it will have a fun element,” City of Coffs Harbour City Infrastructure Director Andrew Beswick said.
“Even with water-efficient shower heads, some nine litres a minute swirl down the drain. Every minute is practically the equivalent of a bucket of water.”
Across the campaign they’ll receive a fortnightly newsletter and a water efficiency checklist to stick to a fridge.
Youngsters who get onboard with the program will receive an additional bonus – free entry to a pool party at the Coffs Harbour War Memorial Olympic Pool, probably in November. This special event will include the inflatable water course/slide.
“They say that water is the gift of life, and The Big Splash Water Saving Challenge is a fun gift from the City to primary school-aged children in a bid to drive change,” Mr Beswick said.
Photo: Can you beat the timer?