First ‘Beyond the Drain’ school tour educates youngsters at Peacehaven

School children learned about what happens to the water they flush from their homes at an innovative new educational tour at Southern Water’s Peacehaven Wastewater Treatment Centre. 

Eco-council students aged 9 to 12 from Great Walstead School, Haywards Heath, were the first to embrace the ‘Beyond the Drain’ initiative, taking part in a hands-on tour and interactive presentation by experts at the fully working treatment site.  

The pupils even got the chance to dress up – trying radio-controlled hard hats equipped with audio and speaker technology, plus a range of other safety equipment. 

Anna Bland, Head of Geography at Great Walstead School, said: “We really enjoyed this school trip and the children were full of excitement and knowledge when they got back to school. The children loved the tour and are still delighted to share the weird and wonderful things that get flushed. The visit exceeded our expectations, and it was unanimously agreed that this was the best trip all year.” 

Katy Taylor, Southern Water’s Chief Customer Officer, opened the first school tour with an official ribbon cutting ceremony, joined the tour with the students. 

She added: “We are thrilled that Great Walstead School were the inaugural visitors of our ‘Beyond the Drain’ school tour. We hope that our innovative education scheme will better inform our customers of the future and realise the importance of thinking about water differently.” 

One of the school’s eco-council students who took part wrote to Southern Water’s Chief Executive, Lawrence Gosden, last year to express concerns regarding environmental impact. Since receiving the letter, members of the company’s Clean, Rivers and Seas Task Force have also visited the school to deliver a presentation on their activities.