Water is something we use every day without giving much thought to where it comes from or what it takes to make it safe for us to use. During World Water Week, the Gouritz Cluster Biosphere Reserve (GCBR), in collaboration with Hessequa Municipality, gave learners the opportunity to see the journey of water for themselves.
Learners visited the Riversdale and Albertinia Waterworks over 3 days. These visits provided an opportunity to turn a topic they often hear about in the classroom into a real-life learning experience.
On 25 and 26 August, 77 Grade 6 and 110 Grade 7 learners from Voorwaarts Primary School visited the Riversdale Waterworks. For many learners, seeing it in person was eye-opening. Clean water isn’t just about turning a tap – it takes infrastructure, constant monitoring, and a lot of people working behind the scenes.
On 27 August, 46 Grade 11 learners from Albertinia High School visited the Albertinia Waterworks to learn about their own local water supply. They also took part in a Mini-SASS activity – a simple way to check river health by looking at the small creatures living in the water. It helped them see the bigger picture. Protecting water isn’t only about using less at home, it’s also about looking after the rivers that supply it.
Across all three days learners were curious and engaged. World Water Week was a good reminder that water is not unlimited. Closing a tap properly, avoiding waste, and keeping pollution out of our rivers, can really make a difference.
Through hands-on learning like this, GCBR hopes to help young people understand their role in caring for the resources our communities depend on.
Every drop has a journey, and we all have a part to play in protecting it.