Ballysillan Primary School Experience Sights and Smells of Belfast's Sewerage System

26 April 2010 11:03

Northern Ireland Water (NI Water) recently welcomed Ballysillan Primary School to its Wastewater Heritage Centre at Duncrue Street, Belfast for an educational visit to experience the sights and smells of Belfast’s sewage system past and present.

Located in the industrial heartland of Belfast, the Heritage Centre allows children to compare the nearby Duncrue Wastewater Treatment Works to the system used in the Victorian era.

To reinforce NI Water’s ‘Bag It and Bin It’ message, the pupils took part in a practical activity to highlight the importance of looking after our sewer network and to learn more about what shouldn’t be flushed down the toilet.

NI Water’s Environmental Education Manager, Jane Jackson said,

“NI Water places great importance on educating young people in the vital role water plays in our lives. Bringing the children to the Heritage Centre allows them to get a better understanding of the steps involved in the sewage cleaning process and what happens when they flush the toilet.

“The Heritage Centre is a wonderful facility combining history, science and environmental awareness and we’re delighted with the positive feedback from schools who have participated to date.”

The programme is aimed at Key Stage 2 and designed to complement a key element of Northern Ireland Primary Curriculum – the ‘World Around Us’ which includes ‘Change Over Time’ and ‘Place’. For further information on NI Water’s education programme, log onto www.niwater.com/education.