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The choice to
feature our next
sponsor was as
simple as it gets.
Harris County MUD 55
is not only
committed to the
Waterwise program,
but they are
dedicated to its
purpose…protecting
and preserving our
water sources.
HCMUD 55, which
services the
Heritage Park
communities located
in southeast Harris
County between the
cities of Webster
and Friendswood, has
been providing kits
to local elementary
schools for
OVER 25 YEARS!
“HCMUD 55 really
helped us to start
our Waterwise
program,” said
program director,
Susan Brown. “They
were there from the
beginning - as part
of the
Harris-Galveston
Subsidence
District’s initial
study – and they
have been a
committed partner
ever since. We
truly value their
years of dedication
and their steadfast
support of this
wonderful program.”
We sat down with
HCMUD 55 Board
Treasurer, Richard
Klenk, to find out
more about how and
why they chose to
participate in this
effort.
What is it
that makes your MUD
so willing to be
involved in this
type of educational
program and to take
the initiative to be
involved from the
ground up?
The District
began working with
the Harris-Galveston
Subsidence District
many years ago while
planning for
converting to
surface water. The
board members became
acutely aware of the
problems that would
be faced by future
generations if the
water sources were
not protected and
conserved. When the
opportunity
presented itself to
teach our children
about water
conservation, we
instantly knew that
this was the place
to start. Future
generations will
inherit any problems
we pass on, so it’s
only fitting that we
do everything we can
to teach them how to
curb those issues
and how to conserve
now and in the
future.
Is there a
specific school or
schools that receive
your Waterwise kits?
We provide the
program to the two
elementary schools
in our District and
to other schools
that HGSD recommends
as needing the
program.
How important
do you feel water
conservation
education is in our
schools? Do you
feel the Waterwise
program has met
and/or exceeded your
expectations?
Obviously we
strongly believe
that water
conservation
education for our
children is
extremely
important. The
Waterwise program
provides all the
needed elements to
assure the best
educational process
for our children.
The printed
education materials,
innovative hands-on
experiments and
creative teaching
guides provide a
wonderful learning
experience. Susan
Brown has been a
great facilitator,
directing our
efforts to where we
can get them most
effectiveness for
our money.
How does it
make the Board feel
to know that they
are part of a
program dedicated to
educating children
about this important
issue?
With this
program, the
children take their
experiments home and
are helped by their
parents. We hope
that this will cause
the whole family to
have an increased
respect for water
conservation. All
of our board members
are extremely proud
that we can present
a program that
educates children in
conserving our most
important natural
resource.
Why do you
think it’s so
important to educate
our children to
conserve and protect
their water
sources? What would
happen if this type
of program was not
included in school
curriculums?
This education
has the potential to
provide a lifelong
awareness of water
issues. Our
children must be
made aware of what
an important issue
this is, and that
without
conservation, we
could be facing much
more serious
problems in the
future. If this
iwer not presented
in the schools, it
is unlikely that the
children would have
any other serious
exposure to the
issue. It must also
be added that it is
the educators that
really make this
program work. The
District can provide
the funds and the
HGSD the materials,
but it is the great
effort by Susan
Brown and our
teachers that puts
all the forces into
action.
The Harris-Galveston
Subsidence District
is proud to have a
partner like HCMUD
55, and we hope they
continue to join us
in this effort for
many years to come! |
