Water, water everywhere - or is it? A second-year Environment and Business student is turning her passion into action by installing water meters on campus in an effort to reduce water consumption.
Samiya Hirji is leading a project to install water meters on campus, which will be used to measure water consumption within the various university colleges as well as provide a baseline for reduction.
This project is key in Samiya’s goal to increase awareness of water consumption issues in Canada. She hopes it will motivate the colleges to reduce water costs and create a community of awareness around water issues.
I have a passion for water conservation because, having grown up in Kenya, I know what its like to come home, turn the tap on and see that there’s no water coming out. Not everyone has access to clean water, or any water for that matter. Water is our most precious resource, and we shouldn't just let it drain down the pipe.
The project is still in its infancy stage, currently working toward raising money to purchase the water flow meters. Once installation of the water meters is complete, the next step will be to use community-based social marketing with Samiya’s partner Lauren Smith in an effort to change behaviours related to water usage.
Being a member of the Environment faculty has strengthened Samiya’s environmental ethic. The GreenHouse Program has been instrumental in measuring the impact of this project as well as with making necessary connections to begin this important project.
Samiya is interested in exploring the relation between Environment and Business. She hopes to pursue a career in Environmental Consulting by learning new perspectives on environmental management within organizations around the world.
Samiya will be presenting at the GreenHouse Social Innovation Showcase on December 3 from 4-5:30pm at St Paul's Alumni Hall.
Original post written on Tuesday, November 25, 2014 by Taylor Neufeld on the UWaterlooLife Blog.