Water education

We offer a variety of water education programs for schools and the community. Find out more information below about water education and different programs available.

Choose Tap

We work with Choose Tap to promote tap water as the most sustainable drink.

Despite being blessed with some of the finest drinking water in the world, Australians are consuming more bottled water than ever before, creating mountains of plastic waste.

Did you know?

  • The average Australian uses 130kg of plastic per year
  • Plastic bottles are among the 10 most common rubbish items picked up on Clean Up Australia Day
  • Less than 20% of plastic gets recycled, with 80% ending up as landfill or litter
  • Over 90% of the cost of a bottle can be traced back to the bottle, lid or label.

So next time you’re thirsty, make the sustainable choice and Choose Tap.

Here are some of the ways you can get involved:

Permanent Hydration Stations

Free tap water is available at any one of our permanent hydration stations throughout the region. Check out our map of hydration stations, or the list of locations below, and don’t forget to bring a re-usable bottle next time you leave the house.

  • Boomerang Beach, northern end
  • Bulahdelah showground
  • Forster, Boronia Park soccer club rooms
  • Forster, Main Beach at the pool
  • Forster, Little Street Baths
  • Gloucester, outside Denison St public toilets
  • Hawks Nest, Providence Park
  • Old Bar, next to Main Beach toilets
  • Pacific Palms Surf Club
  • Taree, Recreation ground building
  • Taree, River walk at Pultney St (just past the play equipment)
  • Taree, River Walk at the old pool
  • Taree, Little Athletics sportsfield clubhouse (end of Bligh St)
  • Tea Gardens, Marine Drive
  • Tinonee Recreation Grounds, soccer clubhouse
  • Tuncurry, John Wright Park
  • Tuncurry, South Street sports complex
  • Tuncurry Memorial Park
  • Tuncurry rock pool
  • Wingham, Central Park playground
  • Wingham sportsground

School Resources

Our Choose Tap education program provides teachers with a broad range of classroom resources, available for download below:

Preschool resources

Primary School resources

High School resources

External Links

Choosing tap water over bottled water and sugary drinks is better for your health, the environment and your hip pocket. Here are some additional resources dealing with these issues.

Organisations: 

Take 3 for the Sea: Spreading awareness about plastic pollution in our oceans and inviting us to pick up three pieces of litter and come up with ways to stop pollution before it happens. Take 3 visit this area for school presentations and activities.

Schools Clean Up Day: Litter clean-up activities and curriculum-linked resources

Videos:

It doesn't make sense to buy bottled water: Yarra Valley Water (YouTube link)

The Story of Bottled Water: From the US-based The Story of Stuff Project

What would happen if you didn't drink water?: TED-Ed

Choice articles:

Tap water vs bottled water

Spinning the bottle

Is bottled water worth the cost? 

Whizzy the Waterdrop

Whizzy the Waterdrop and his scientist friend.
 

Whizzy visits for preschools

Whizzy and friends usually visit preschools across the region each October to celebrate National Water Week, but they’re also happy to make special visits throughout the year pending availability.

Whizzy's helper usually reads children a story which looks at things we can do to save water around our homes. Then the fun really starts - Whizzy arrives and has a sing and play with the children, before leaving them with some important tips on how they can be water-savers!

Expressions of interest forms are sent out in early term 3 each year for visits during term 4. If you don't receive them, or for visits at other times of the year, contact [email protected]

Whizzy visits for early primary school

Whizzy the Waterdrop loves to spread his water wise and Choose Tap message to our local primary schools.

Whizzy and friends usually visit primary schools across the region each October to celebrate National Water Week, but they’re also happy to make a special visit throughout the year.

Expression of interest forms are sent out in early term 3 each year for visits during term 4. If you don’t receive them, or for visits at other times of the year, contact [email protected]

School excursions

To book an excursion contact us on 02 7955 7777 or email [email protected]