THAMES Water has hit an education milestone having taught more than 100,000 schoolchildren about the water industry in the last five years.

The company's pioneering education programme gives children an insight into how they deal with water and waste for millions of customers.

The scheme, which operates from seven education centres based at Thames Water sites or through visits to schools by speakers, helps youngsters understand how the company works to provide clean and waste water services across London and the Thames Valley.

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They learn about the water cycle, how water supports life and how to care for such a precious resource as well as the impacts of flushing the wrong things down the loo.

Sessions include interactive games and exercises such as the “Network Challenge”, where students can plan, build and test their own water supply network to meets the demands of a fictional town.

The children are offered tours of some operational sites, including sewage treatment works, as well as the chance to attend science and engineering challenges across London and the Thames Valley.

Thames Water’s education manager Paul Hampton said: “Our education programme enables us to teach the next generation all about the vital work we do to keep their taps and toilets flowing as well as encouraging them to be water savers and giving them a behind the scenes glimpse at our sites.

“We’re delighted to have reached so many youngsters and hopefully we’ve inspired a few to work in the water industry, maybe even for Thames Water, in the future.

“We’ll continue to engage with children through school visits and events at our sites.”

Kate Thomson, careers and employability skills coordinator at Reading Girls’ School, added: “Thames Water is very supportive and has visited the school on many occasions.

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“The education managers are very friendly and offer activities as well as helping with our plans and projects.

“They provide excellent support for our students' personal development as well as linking their learning to careers and the wider world, making it real and raising confidence and aspiration.”

Thames Water reached the milestone figure at the end of last year after a visit from a local primary school to the company’s new education centre at Deephams sewage works in Enfield.

Twenty six children from Copenhagen Primary School in Islington visited the works, which has recently undergone a major upgrade to meet the demands of modern London.

Paul said: “As part of the Deephams upgrade we’ve ensured we can safely host school visits for those who want to find out how we provide the essential service of looking after their waste water.

“Copenhagen Primary School had been studying how they can manage water resources effectively, so a trip to visit their local water company was a perfect fit.”

The education centre at Deephams runs visits every week and has a dedicated classroom which can accommodate up to 32 children.

Along with receiving fun and interactive sessions on the waste water system, all visitors are given a walking tour of the site.