GPG, through the CCP Norte Durango, has installed three rainwater harvesting systems in three schools in two communities near the plant in Durango, Mexico: two in schools in the locality of General Carlos Real and one in the Abraham Gonzalez community. Environmental education and awareness workshops for water care and maintenance of collection systems have also been carried out.
Workshops in schools near the plant
At the Martin Luis Guzman preschool, the workshop “Why do we collect rainwater?” brought together 29 boys and girls, along with their parents. The event provided them with a space wherein they reflected on the importance of capturing rainwater as an activity that ensures the supply of clean and safe water. It also taught them about the general care of the system.
The second group included grades 3 to 6. They attended the environmental education activity “How can we use rainwater?”. Through experiential and group learning activities they discovered hands-on how we can capture water and how to utilize it in the school.
The first event was attended by authorities from the Public Secretary, the head of Sector Number 5 Olga Lilia Díaz Castañeda and the supervisor of Zone 48, Adela Olivas Hernández. They took part in the workshop and thanked GPG and the power station workers Carlos Mercado Galarza, David Najera Vela, Anel Ramírez Carreño and Ángel Ignacio Calderón Reyes.
Rainwater harvesting systems were designed for the three schools. They use available resources such as roofs and water tanks and are now available for 239 preschool and primary school children, as well as 18 teachers. Each school now has a storage capacity of 10,000 litres of water, which also contributes to addressing the water stress of the region.
These rainwater harvesting systems also strengthen awareness about water conservation, and are an incentive for communities to care for their children’s stomach health, as one mother stated: “We don’t have water to wash our hands, or for basic needs”.
In the presence of school authorities and personnel from the combined-cycle power station, the commitment to ensure that neighbouring schools have quality water for children was reinforced, thus preventing the suspension of classes due to lack of water.
Some photos taken during the workshops:
