Harvesting, recycling and reusing rainwater with an ecological system for an elementary school.

After the construction of the Žilina Water Reservoir on the Váh river, the Teplica brook started to deform. Curved banks, flash-floods or low water-table result from low water-adaptation capacity of the enclosed territories. Hence, the Catholic Primary School decided to widen the perspectives of its pupils and teenage students in these terms by implementing a systematic strategy of how to cope with the issue of rainwater management.

The project was needed because after the construction of the Žilina Water Reservoir on the Váh river, The Teplica brook started to deform. Curved banks, flash-floods or low water-table were a result from a low water-adaptation capacity of the enclosed territories. It was needed to increase the awareness and education dealing with the adaptation to climate change. The students and their parents realised that the protection of our environment is very important. Preparation and promotion of teaching plans focused on the rainwater management and its linkage to the climate change for primary and secondary schools have been very helpful. The environment around school was improved, many trees were planted, there are bets of flowers in the grass, shelter for bicycles with green roof, there was built a tank for water from the rainwater (sewage) pipes, which It is used for watering. 

The project deals with:

• Capturing of surface rainwater from the firm impervious surfaces and roofs of the school buildings where the rainwater trickles down to the sewerage.
• Elaboration and publicity of thematic school outlines focused on management of rainwater and climate changes.
• Thematic environmental activities.

Through the project’s implementation, the volume of rainwater that becomes reused and the knowledge of children about climate change adaptation measures will be increased. The project is expected to prepare and promote teaching plans focused on rainwater management and its linkage to the climate change for schools. 

It is situated in the area of the Elementary School of Žofia Bosniaková. The objective of the project is to increase public environmental awareness about the adaptation to climate change.

The partnership will include consultancy and advice via video-calls for the lecturers of the pupils and students who will benefit from the project. International Development Norway lectured and supervised the target groups and other staff support in reference to air and climatic research.

The project is going to increase environmental awareness about the adaptation to climate change, implement adaptive measures and establish a new webpage or sub-webpage. Children, students and non-governmental organizations are expected to benefit from the project’s implementation.

By bilateral partnership wider understanding of issues of climatic changes in our region has been achieved, microclimate improved and possibility to reach sustainable development. This project has also helped our citizens to understand the importance of adaptation to climate change. Whole community uses these new objects that were built. This cooperation has contributed to strengthened bilateral relations by exchanging information and experience, sharing achieved results and improving knowledge and mutual understanding between us. Our project partner helped us to better understand the climate change and taught us how to manage adaptation to climate change in our school area.

• Elaboration and publicity of outlines for primary and secondary schools focused on management of rainwater and the connection with climate change.
• Publishing of all information about the program “Adjustment to a climate change- the floods and drought prevention” for general public.