ERIN – The Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) visited St. John Brebeuf Catholic School on June 21, to present a certificate for completing the agency’s OneWater Education program back in February.
The province-wide program sees OCWA’s water and wastewater operators in classrooms, helping students discover the power of their choices when it comes to impacting the water systems and environment through hands-on learning.
In Erin, one of the OCWA’s operational and maintenance team leads, Dan Trickett, presented the program to the class in February and June.
He presented the class with a certificate for their completion of the program.
He was joined by guests, councillors John Brennan and Bridget Ryan.
The OCWA OneWater Education program began in 2014 out of a desire to strengthen and formalize OCWA’s commitment to water literacy and to the communities OCWA serves.
Working with a team of educators and OCWA operators from several communities across Ontario, they developed a free program that is geared towards Grade 8 classes.
The program is designed to complement the Ontario curriculum by introducing students to the water cycle, water and wastewater treatment processes, as well as how to make smart choices about what goes down the pipes.
To date, more than 4,800 students from more than 70 schools across Ontario have participated in the program.
Over the last few years, the OCWA has worked towards updating the program with a new roll out in the 2023/2024 school year.
The OCWA is a provincial crown agency established in 1993 that reports through the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks.
They provide for over 300 communities across Ontario.
They also provide environmental, responsible and cost effective water and wastewater services to municipalities, institutions, industry and First Nations comunities.
The Town of Erin owns two drinking water system facilities that are operated by OCWA to deliver safe and reliable clean water services that protect public health.
Both Erin Municipal Water System and the Hillsburgh Municipal Water System obtain their water from two wells and supply clean water to over 3,800 residents.
For more information, contact education and community outreach coordinator for OCWA Taylor Hardacre, at THardacre@ocwa.com.
