Mechelen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – PTS Mechelen, a school focused on plants and the environment, installed 630,000-litre underground tanks to store rainwater. They received a water award for sustainable water use, supported by Life Aclima.
As VRT News reported, PTS Mechelen, a school about plants and the environment, have put in underground tanks. These tanks will collect rainwater. The school wants students to learn about saving water. The students will become horticulturists.
The tanks can hold a lot of water, 630,000 litres. Officials mentioned that this helps with the “Climate Today” plan. This plan is to help with climate change. Luk Lemmens said the school is helping the environment. They are managing water well because of climate change.
How is PTS Mechelen leading the way in sustainable water use?
According to school officials, the school will use the rainwater for different things. They will water the plants in the greenhouses. Greenhouses need a lot of water. They will also use the water for things like flushing toilets. The school won’t need as much regular water from the city.
They mentioned that the school is ready for all kinds of weather. They can save water when it rains a lot. Then, they can use it when it doesn’t rain. They said that students can learn about water and how to be sustainable. This helps them understand how to manage water.
“We have greenhouses here, but we are also going to use them to flush the toilets. A lot of water is used on this campus. So it is important to use it well and to buffer it. We are going to have dry periods, but also periods with a lot of rain. So we have to store that water.”
Deputy for Education, Luk Lemmens (N-VA).
PTS Mechelen has received a water award. This award is part of a program that encourages schools to save water. The Water Award is given to places that use water responsibly. The award advises on how to save water. It also talks about using rainwater and other ways to manage water well.
The school is also getting more ideas on how to save even more water. The school has already done things like put in underground tanks to store rainwater. This makes them a leader in using water in a sustainable way.
PTS Mechelen is part of a project in Antwerp that helps with climate change. Over the last 3 years, many places have worked on this. The Life Aclima group is helping businesses with water. They advised 52 companies.
These companies needed help with water because of climate change. The companies got special water awards. They mentioned that the awards told them how to save water. They also learned about using rainwater.
