The PlayPump was officially opened on Friday, April 12, 2013 by the Executive Mayor of Sol Plaatje Agnes Ntlhangula and other high ranking council officials. The excitement of the 1,250 Tshwarelela Primary School students was evident as they gathered in the square to sing and dance nearly two hours before the official ribbon cutting. This corporate social responsibility initiative forms part of a broader program to address affordability and accessibility of energy and water in the communities Itron serves.
"The high cost of water and electricity is a big issue in Sol Plaatje. Itron's donation of a PlayPump to Tshwarelela Primary School not only allows students access to clean water, but provides them with a fun place to play," said Ntlhangula. "We are very thankful to Itron for their generous donation."
Itron donated the PlayPump to Tshwarelela Primary School and will provide it ongoing maintenance, dramatically reducing the school's water costs and enabling the school to reallocate funds to student programs. Access to this free water also enables the expansion of the school's vegetable garden into a community garden that allows residents to grow food and help the community.
"Clean and affordable water is essential to life and Itron is committed to protecting this precious resource. We are proud to help Tshwarelela Primary School with access to drinking water and to be able to give something back to the community," said Damian Padachi, managing director of Itron, South Africa. "We look forward to working with other municipalities to help make a difference in the communities where we do business."
About Itron
Itron is a global technology company. We build solutions that help utilities measure, manage and analyze energy and water. Our broad product portfolio includes electricity, gas, water and thermal energy measurement and control technology; communications systems; software; and professional services. With thousands of employees supporting nearly 8,000 utilities in more than 100 countries, Itron empowers utilities to responsibly and efficiently manage energy and water resources. Join us in creating a more resourceful world; start here: www.itron.com.
About Roundabout Water Solutions
The PlayPump concept enables children to pump drinkable water while having fun, is run by a South African NGO: Roundabout Water Solutions: www.playpumps.co.za. The installation of PlayPumps in South Africa has resulted in schools experiencing a dramatic drop in water born diseases and improvement in education and hygiene.
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