At the end of last year, another drinking water dispenser was officially handed over at the Neue Sandrennbahn community school, this time in the building of the voluntary all-day school (FGTS). District Administrator Frank John, Yvonne Handschuher, Head of Corporate Communications and Marketing at Stadtwerke Homburg, Headmaster Thorsten Podevin, teachers and pupils met in the FGTS assembly hall for this happy occasion. The new water dispenser has been used extensively there for several months.
In order to provide a free supply of drinking water, the Saarpfalz district began installing drinking water dispensers in the district's own schools several years ago. Since 2023, these have been subsidised by the local drinking water suppliers as part of the "Sustainable water management funding guideline" of the Saarland Ministry of the Environment, Climate, Mobility, Agriculture and Consumer Protection.
The guidelines state: "Against the backdrop of demographic change, the funding is intended to help ensure equal living conditions and improve the environment and quality of life, particularly in rural areas. The grants will benefit the water management infrastructure in the water supply and the protection of groundwater and thus indirectly benefit every citizen of Saarland."
The connection and maintenance work, which is not included but must be guaranteed for five years, is carried out by the Saarpfalz district for secondary schools.
Installation-based drinking water dispensers in public spaces, at schools and now also in day-care centres are being promoted. The aim is to ensure access to water and raise pupils' awareness of water as a precious and vital resource.
The school management, teachers and pupils were visibly enthusiastic during the on-site visit. "I drink a lot more now than I used to and no longer bring sweet drinks to school. The water tastes good and quenches my thirst," said a young FGTS participant.
It sounds simple, and it is. "I am convinced that the drinking water dispensers at our schools will encourage everyone on site to change their drinking behaviour towards drinking more water. We are happy to accompany and support such projects, which have a positive impact on the environment and people in many ways. My thanks go to the Ministry of the Environment and Stadtwerke Homburg, but also to my employees in our property management and climate protection departments, who are carefully coordinating this measure."
Stadtwerke Homburg is once again involved in this programme. "We are currently supporting the installation of three drinking water dispensers at the following schools Neue Sandrennbahn community school, Luitpold and Bruchhof primary schools," explained Yvonne Handschuher. Now that the support programme has been extended to daycare facilities, Stadtwerke Homburg has also equipped the Protestant Sonnenfeld daycare centre with a drinking water dispenser. "We are coordinating this important project for us from the application stage through to implementation and are paying the costs for the drinking water dispensers in advance," continues Yvonne Handschuher. In principle, the installation of the drinking water dispensers is an important step towards sustainability and health promotion.
Once again, Yvonne Handschuher had 100 reusable drinking bottles in her luggage, which she was happy to donate to the school, much to the delight of those present.