Pupils at Armoy Primary School have learned that only 1% of the Earth’s water is safe for human consumption during a visit from NI Water’s education team.

The session, aimed at Key Stage 2 children, used interactive games, practical demonstrations and a water-drop mascot called H20 to explain how water is treated and supplied to homes across Northern Ireland.

Anna Killen, NI Water’s education officer, stated that the organisation considers educating young people about water’s vital role a priority and that feedback from participating schools has been positive.

Pupils were shown how everyday habits waste water. Leaving a tap running while brushing teeth uses six litres per minute. A bath can require up to 100 litres, while a sprinkler can spray 1,000 litres of drinking water in an hour.

At the end of the session, every child made a “water drop pledge”, committing to one action to reduce waste.

NI Water also shared ten water-saving tips. These include taking four-minute showers, fixing dripping taps—which waste over 60 litres a week—only running washing machines with full loads, keeping a jug of water in the fridge instead of running taps cold, and washing cars with a bucket instead of a hose.

The programme forms part of the Northern Ireland Primary Curriculum’s “The World Around Us” area of learning. Teachers can download classroom materials from NI Water’s website.

The visit comes as water conservation gains attention amid pressure on utilities and rising energy costs. NI Water hopes classroom lessons will encourage more responsible water use in the wider community.