A new 1,000-gallon storage tank has been installed at St Andrew’s Anglican Primary, giving the school a dedicated store of water on site for the first time. The tank was commissioned this week and is already in use, drawing from the mains supply and holding a reserve that keeps taps, bathrooms and the kitchen running during short interruptions.

The installation is part of a wider school and community water-storage programme that NAWASA is running across St Andrew. The aim is straightforward: place storage close to the people who depend on it, so that maintenance work, dry-season low flows and the occasional burst main are less disruptive to daily life.

Why on-site storage matters

Schools are among the sites most affected when supply is interrupted. Without water, bathrooms close, the kitchen cannot prepare meals, and classes are often sent home early. A tank of this size holds enough to carry the school through a typical day’s interruption, so learning continues while crews work on the network.

“When the water is off, everything at a school stops. Having a store on site means the children can stay in class and the day carries on as normal.”— Head Teacher, St Andrew’s Anglican Primary

The programme prioritises schools, health centres and community facilities first, then works outward to households in areas where the terrain or the length of the mains makes supply harder to keep steady. Each site is assessed for the right tank size, the connection point and the space needed for safe access.

What comes next

Further installations are planned at other schools in the parish over the coming months. NAWASA is also encouraging households to keep a modest store of water at home, particularly through the dry season, and to report any leaks or unusual drops in pressure so crews can respond quickly.

Residents with questions about the programme, or communities interested in a shared storage point, can contact the Corporate Communications office or their nearest NAWASA office.