Apr 15, 2009 1:19 pm US/Eastern
Miami Goes Into Water Use Efficiency Initiative
One-Of-A-Kind Public-Private Environmental Education Partnership
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Miami adopts a private-public partnership water savvy habits.
CBS
A Miami water conservation initiative started on Wednesday called "Be Water Wise Miami". Its objective is to encourage citizens to become more concerned over local, national, and global water issues.
The project also calls on students to help augment the conservation program with lessons to be taught in the public school system.
The program was introduced at Jose de Diego Middle School by Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, along with Miami-Dade School Superintendent Alberto Carvalho.
Mayor Diaz said, "These are not our resources, these are borrowed and we need to make sure that they are there for our young people and their children."
The middle school is one of 14 that will take part in the county's school district.
Students launched their school water measurement exercise to show just how much water could be wasted in five seconds if one doesn't shut the water faucet off while brushing one's teeth or washing one's hands.
Student Sarah Abreau took the measurement and said, "That's how much water we are wasting - 1.4 gallons per minute. If we save water we save money as well."
Fellow student Quishawna Johnson believes what she and her classmates will learn will make a difference.
The public-private environmental partnership was made possible by a $250,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation to the National Environmental Education Week.
Other partnering organizations include Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, HydroPoint Data Systems, Inc., Johnson Controls, Inc., South Florida Water Management District, Miami-Dade County Water and Sewer Department and the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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