Saving water at school: Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP)
The Victorian Government Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP) can help your school cut water use, saving water, energy, money and the environment.
Under the Schools Water Efficiency Program, school students can log in to a secure web portal and monitor their water usage in real time.
We support the Victorian Government's Schools Water Efficiency Program (SWEP).
The program enables schools to track their water usage using data logger technology. By monitoring water use, schools can detect and fix leaks, saving water and money. The program also provides students with an opportunity to learn about water efficiency in the 'real world' and is supported by the Water: Learn it! Live it! curriculum resource.
Program components
- Register: Schools can sign up online.
- Install: Data loggers are installed on your water meters. Installation takes only minutes, and your water does not need to be turned off.
- Access and learn: Teachers, facilities managers and students have access to a personalised web portal to track and record water use. Curriculum materials support the program with relevant class activities.
Cost
There is no cost for the first year of the program. This includes the supply and installation of up to two water data loggers and access to the SWEP web portal.
Following the completion of the first year, schools will be required to pay a data hosting and access fee of $165 per year (inclusive of GST) for the next two years of the program.
Schools can also purchase additional data loggers at a reduced rate.
Funding
SWEP is funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD).
Curriculum integration
This phase of SWEP is supported by the Water: Learn it! Live it! curriculum: data logging module.
The program is a great way to combine maths, science and environmental studies using real-world examples.
History of the program
Launched in 2006, the first phase of SWEP was an audit and retrofit program. Around 1,700 Victorian schools participated, reducing their water use by implementing low-cost, water-efficient plumbing solutions.
Now in its second phase, the SWEP program uses data-logging technology to record water use in real time. The program is supported by a dedicated web portal for schools to monitor their consumption and check for leaks. A dedicated curriculum resource provides relevant activities for the classroom.
The SWEP program is voluntary, and is open to all Victorian Schools. Schools do not need to have been involved in the first phase of the program to participate in phase 2.
More information
To learn more, check out the SWEP website or watch the video.