Be Water Wise Atlanta

With the success of Be Water Wise Miami, NEEF’s partners expressed interest in supporting a similar program in Atlanta, and Atlanta soon became the second pilot city for the program. Be Water Wise Atlanta is made possible by Johnson Controls, Inc. and the Wal-Mart Foundation. The program launched in early 2010.

As part of Be Water Wise Atlanta, teachers and custodians from 14 selected Atlanta schools attended a workshop on the Georgia Tech campus on February 27, 2010, where they received training and program-related educational materials. The workshop was led by representatives from Georgia Project WET and Johnson Controls, Inc. Throughout March and April 2010, students assessed water use at their schools, inspecting each water-using device – faucets, sinks, water fountains, etc. – to check for leaks and measure flow rates. Students analyzed their results and developed plans to save water in their schools. Students presented their findings and conservation plans to the Atlanta City Council on May 17, 2010.

Participating schools recieved grant funds to implement water conservation projects – rain barrel installation, the placement of aerators on faucets throughout the school building, planting of native landscaping, awareness campaigns and other efforts to engage students in improving water conservation on the campuses. Projects were implemented in the 2010-2011 school year.

 Media Resources 

• April 14, 2010 Press Release: Atlanta Students Launch Innovative Environmental Education Project (PDF) 
• April 11, 2010 A video message from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed regarding Be Water Wise Atlanta
• March 16, 2010 Press Release:  Atlanta Public Schools, National Environmental Education Foundation Launch Partnership for Water Conservation (PDF)

 Workshop Presentations

• Be Water Wise Atlanta Introduction
• City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
• Johnson Controls, Inc. 

 School Resources 

• Be Water Wise Atlanta Phase I Report (due May 19, 2010)
• Be Water Wise Atlanta Grant Application (due May 19, 2010)
• Background Information on Atlanta's Water and the Water-Energy Connection in Georgia
• School Water Measurement Activity
• Student Report Outline
• Water and Energy Saving Ideas for Schools
• A Day in the Life of a Drop developed by the U.S. EPA's WaterSense Program
• Additional Water Resources
• Student take-home flyer in English or Spanish

 Be Water Wise Atlanta Schools

 Be Water Wise Atlanta Partners

• Atlanta Public Schools
• City of Atlanta Office of Sustainability
• City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
• U.S. EPA Region 4
• Georgia Project WET
• Georgia Green & Healthy Schools
• Conserve Water Georgia
• Georgia Aquarium
• The Center for Education Integrating Science, Mathematics, and Computing (CEISMC) at Georgia Tech
• Johnson Controls, Inc.
• The Wal-Mart Foundation