Joshua Tree, CA– One hundred and ten fifth grade students from both Joshua Tree Elementary School and Friendly Hills Elementary School just concluded a month-long exploration of water: its importance for life, global water availability, the water cycle, and learned about our watershed and ground water pollution. The “Water Wise Water Course” program, headed by Deb Bollinger, Conservation Coordinator for the Joshua Basin Water District, designed the activities to involve a field trip to the Joshua Basin Water District’s Water Wise Demonstration Garden, followed by take home activities involving the actual replacement of in-home low-flow fixtures.

Eighty-one of the students and their families this year accepted the District’s water savings challenge by installing low flow fixtures in their homes and then, measuring the savings. Last year’s 5th graders saved over half a million gallons of water per year, which is significant as once fixtures were installed they continue to save on water use and water bills year after year. This year, the two fifth grade classes at each school competed within each school for the most water-savings accomplished through their student’s efforts.

The final results were just tabulated by the Water District’s volunteer docents and the findings were impressive! Mrs. Mikschl’s class garnered the water savings award at Friendly Hills for saving 293,497 gallons per year, and Mrs. Parks’ students at Joshua Tree Elementary School won the top award for saving 311,199 gallons per year. Both winning classes received a $50 check, sponsored by the Morongo Basin Conservation Association.

“In reality, the efforts of all the participating students have impacted water savings totaling 9,005,007 gallons of
water over the lifetime of the water fixtures installed. That’s a significant amount of water!” Noted Deb Bollinger. “These young students were keenly interested in making a difference—the statistics prove they have!”