WaterWise Educational Programs

Approximately 2/3 of your weight is water! And more than 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, but less than 3% is considered freshwater and less than 1% is available for human use and consumption.

Water is a precious resource that we all share. The Town of Cary is dedicated to preserving and protecting our finite resources and established the Water Conservation Program in 1996 to educate our community about the environmental and economic benefits of using water efficiently.

Our WaterWise Educational Programs are free, interactive lessons to help your students learn about water conservation and integrate WaterWise habits into their lives. All lessons are specifically designed to complement the NC Standard Course of Study. Town staff is available to teach the following water conservation programs at local schools and civic organizations. We look forward to working with your students.

View program brochure.

Interactive Lessons

Duration: 50 minutes (Programs can be customized to fit your curriculum needs.)

Freshwater on Earth

Where can we find all the earth’s fresh water? Using geography and math skills in a hands-on lesson your students will compare the vast amount of salt water to the limited amount of freshwater. 1st grade.

Save Lots Of Water (S.L.O.W.)

Your students will learn about water conservation and actively begin WaterWise habits as they play the game ‘S.L.O.W.’ Each student will see the cumulative impact of their individual efforts on our community. The Town provides a home water conservation kit for each student. 2nd grade.

PIPES

Water flows through our community every day. It flows out of our taps and into our drains. But have you ever wondered where our water comes from and where it goes? Find out as your students transform your classroom into a network of pipes that model how Cary’s water distribution and collection system serve the needs of our community. Grades 2 and 5. Grade 8 program includes a lesson on NC river basins and the human impact on water quality.

Tours

Duration: 60 minutes

Grade Level: Middle school and high school students

Location: Town of Cary water and wastewater treatment facilities

How Water Is Processed

Tour the Cary/Apex Water Treatment Facility and discover how water from

Jordan Lake is treated and made drinkable.

Wastewater Treatment

What is reclaimed water? What are Enviro Gems? Tour the North or South Cary Water Reclamation Facility and discover how wastewater is treated in a biological nutrient removal process and returned to the environment.

WaterWise Workshops

Join us each spring and fall for free WaterWise Workshops such as composting, vermicomposting, rainwater harvesting, and WaterWise landscapes. View a current list of workshops in the water conservation section of the Town’s Web site at www.townofcary.org or call (919) 462-3872.

Registration is required. Content is geared towards teens and adults. Children accompanied by an adult are welcome.

H20 Tools and Tips

The Town can provide water conservation tools and tips in classroom sets to supplement your curriculum. We also lend complimentary books and videos on the subject of water conservation.

Booking a program is easy!

Step 1

Consider the following:

• Which programs are you interested in?

• How many sessions do you need?

• How many students per program? (A minimum of 10 students is required.)

• What is your preferred program date and time?

• Who is the coordinating teacher and what is their contact information?

Step 2

Call or e-mail to request a program or to receive more information. Please make your program request at least two weeks prior to your preferred program date.

Phone: (919) 462-3872

E-mail: conservation.programs@townofcary.org