Kota Kinabalu: Apart from being emulated by local and overseas schools, SM St Michael's 21 water tanks to harvest rain water have helped reduce their water bills from RM3,000 to RM1,500.SM St Michael has been a strong advocate of the environment and has been winning numerous awards for its efforts.
Its excellent principal of five years, Marie Yong Pik Hua said that they have won four consecutive years in the annual Water Vision Award since it was introduced in year 2009 by the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) and the Coca-Cola Company.
She said this at a press conference held at the school, here, Monday.
"Before year 2008, I've noticed that the school's water bill for three months is usually over RM3,000, but after using rain water for our toilets, plants and others, recently, I checked the bill and found out that our latest three months' water bill is now RM1,500."
To top this, the Coca Cola Company's new sponsorship of the Rainwater Harvesting System will further assist them in reducing their water bills, she said.
Schools as far as Korea and Singapore have come to visit their school to emulate what they are practising.
According to her, schools from the peninsula and Sabah are also among their visitors.
MNS President, Prof. Dr. Maketab Mohamed who was also present at the press conference said that it's all about changing people's mindsets.
"Of course now we have a lot of water, so we tend to take the situation for granted, but we have to think about times when we might not have it."
"We want people to open their eyes on the idea of rain water harvesting."
MNS' Executive Director, Shah Redza Hussein who was one of the judges said the school won due to the success of internalising what they have learned and reaching out to the community.
"This involves conducting talks enabling society to participate and acquire knowledge on conserving water."
Apart from meeting MNS' objectives, the quality and the creativity of their presentation also caught the judges' attention.
"Basically, it helps youths realise that it's not just about saving water, but knowing about the quality of water, and also saving the rainforests as 70 per cent of water is from our forests."
He also revealed the fact that an education centre will also be set up in Sabah.
Meanwhile, SM St Michael and the Malaysian Nature Society will be holding a Water Conference on Nov 6.
Eleven schools will be involved among them those from Kudat and Tambunan.
Among those present were MNS Vice President, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Ismail, Coca Cola Group Consultant, David Ong-Yeoh, form four pupils, Jesscynthia Joseph, Pierce Gabriel Kunan and their teacher, Jennifer Asing.
