National Water Day is celebrated on 1 October and marks the beginning of a new hydrological year, as it is the time when water reserves reach their minimum and when the rainy season begins.
As such, Águas do Norte chose Baião to mark this event by placing drinking fountains in the municipality’s schools and handing out reusable bottles to the school community, in a partnership between the company and Baião Town Council.
This symbolic initiative, which was attended by the vice-president and member of the Board of Directors of Águas do Norte, Fernanda Lacerda and Filipe Araújo Silva respectively, as well as the company’s technicians, was held at the Agrupamento de Escolas do Sudeste, in Santa Marinha do Zêzere, although the other schools in the municipality will also be involved.
The aim is to raise awareness among the youngest to consume tap water hygienically and safely, as well as to reduce the use of plastic bottles, with a view to raising awareness, promoting the adoption of more environmentally appropriate attitudes that contribute to sustainable development, promoting the value of water and improving the population’s quality of life.
A total of 1,600 bottles will be distributed and six drinking fountains have been installed in the Vale de Ovil, Eiriz-Ancede and Sudeste de Baião schools, which will be accessible to students and teaching and non-teaching staff.
The Councillor for Education, Anabela Cardoso, was also present and revealed that ‘this initiative is aimed at the students of Baião, with the intention of demonstrating that tap water is of good quality and should be consumed.
It’s also a measure that seeks to reduce the consumption of plastic bottles, in other words, it not only protects the environment, but also saves money for families, since it’s no longer necessary to buy bottled water at school.’
The mayor also said that ‘the municipality will monitor the project, collecting data to assess whether the objectives are being met’ and ended by leaving a challenge for the students:
‘Let’s hope that this project is a seed for each of you to become enthusiastic and involved in the work of preserving our planet.’
During the session held in the auditorium of the Zezer school, the students listened attentively to explanations about the importance of reducing plastic consumption and about the work carried out by Águas do Norte, among other aspects, and took an active part in an enriching dialogue with Fernanda Lacerda, vice-president of the Board of Directors of Águas do Norte, who stressed the importance of preserving water resources and environmental education, highlighting the start of the new hydrological year, which runs from 1 October to 30 September.
She added that the aim is to raise awareness among students and, through them, to reach families, promoting environmental sustainability.
Fernanda Lacerda ended her speech by saying that “tap water has all the components we need for our well-being and health and can be consumed freely, hygienically and safely.”
