Old Bar Public School is a coastal public school with approximately 500 students. The school is passionate about the environment and sustainability and used its Water Wiser Grant to upgrade its bubblers to a hydration station.

The new station prioritises bottle filling, which helps reduce water wastage compared to conventional bubblers, while also offering a number of bubblers with taps that automatically turn off. This ensures students without bottles can still grab a drink without causing any unnecessary water loss. The upgrade supports the school’s commitment to environmental responsibility.

The Tinonee Public School P & C Committee fundraises in an inclusive way to assist the school and families with costs. They were successful in obtaining a Water Wiser Grant to purchase and install rainwater tanks, plants and gardening supplies so they could expand the school’s gardening activities without using additional town water. The project created the opportunity for social connection between the students while also teaching them about the importance of water efficiency and sustainability. Fire connections were also installed on the tanks so they could be used by the Rural Fire Service in an emergency.

Taree and District Preschool is a community preschool operating in the Bushlands Estate in Taree that offers early education to children aged 2-5 years. Part of the preschool’s philosophy is to encourage children to become aware of their global responsibility and be positive contributors to human equality and the sustainability of the planet.

The preschool used part of its Water Wiser Grant to replace the aging taps in its bathroom with new water efficient taps, helping to conserve water in a high-use area. The rest of the grant was used to purchase and install a water tank and pump for their vegetable garden, where the students learn how to produce food, care for plants and conserve water.