On October 25th, 2024, the BPU brought back its very successful Children’s Water Festival after a four-year break. As in the past, the attendees were Central Kansas 4th graders who rely on the Equus Beds Aquifer for clean water and filled several buildings on the McPherson College Campus. This year, 347 students and teachers attended. The Children’s Water Festival had been an annual festival for 18 years, this being the 19th year. The event was something that students in the region looked forward to as they entered the 4th grade. Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions, the event had to be paused. Towards the completion of the BPU’s visionary water project in the summer of 2024, the decision was made to resurrect this event to help students understand the importance of being good stewards of this precious life source. The McPherson Board of Public Utilities sponsored the event, with McPherson College hosting the event on its campus.
A large share of Central Kansas’s water supply comes from groundwater. Groundwater contamination can occur without proper education and prevention. The Water Festival is intended to inform children that being good stewards of the aquifer we draw water from today will make a difference in keeping groundwater safe and plentiful in the years to come.
When the students arrived at the Festival for their daylong event, they were greeted by CW Frog (Clean Water Frog), the Festival Mascot, and Willy Watt (our local Public Power Week Celebrity).
The students participated in hands-on learning activities emphasizing the geology of the aquifer, landfill construction, the water cycle, water well construction, and many other fun, educational, water-based activities. Presenters and helpers for the various demonstrations and class guides included representatives from Kansas Municipal Utilities, Burns & McDonnell, McPherson 4-H Extension, K-State Research and Extension, McPherson College, McPherson Area Solid Waste, Geary Co Conservation, Kansas Water Office, Natural Resources Conservation Service – Reno County and McPherson BPU employees and retirees.
Nearly 100 volunteers participated on the day of the Festival to ensure a fun, educational experience for those attending.
The Children’s Water Festival is free to students and school districts, as local industry and community organizations underwrite it.
Educating our youth today will help protect our water supply for future generations.