Portree High Pupils in Water Challenge

Last Friday Portree High School pupils and staff were invited to take a water taste challenge. Three different brands of bottle waters and tap water were ‘blind’ tasted and the pupils and staff asked to rate them in order of preference and say which they thought was tap water. Nearly half the school took part and 64% of participants could not identify the tap water leading the pupils to consider if they should be choosing to buy it.

The event was organised by Portree High Eco-School Committee co-ordinator, Lisa Craig, along with Phil Dewar from The Highland Council Waste Awareness Team. Annette Meehan, Zerowaste Co-ordinator from Lochaber Environmental Group also took part.

Organised as part of European Week for Waste Reduction, the event aimed to highlight the environmental cost of bottled water. Bottled water is about 500 times dearer than tap water; only a fraction of the bottles get recycled, the rest ending up in landfill, and additionally there is the environmental impact of transporting the water around the country, and between countries.

Participants in the challenge had their names entered into a draw to win one of 30 reusable water bottles donated by The Highland Council Waste Awareness Team. The school is now hoping to encourage more students to use reusable water bottles as a means of reducing landfilled waste and improving their health and wellbeing by discouraging them from purchasing high calorie carbonated drinks.

Pupils from Mrs Craig’s class and from the School’s Eco School Committee helped to conduct the taste test. Portree High School is working towards achieving its Green Flag status and will be taking part in the scope litter campaign early in the New Year.

They are also seeking suggestions from the wider community of environmental projects they may be able to implement. A Suggestion Box has been placed in the Library if any members of the public would like to contribute ideas.