Leucadia Wastewater District awards ‘Teacher Grants’

Leucadia Wastewater District grants awarded this month to three local teachers will translate into hands-on learning experiences for more than 600 students.

The district’s Teacher Grant Program is designed to foster an understanding of sustainable water and wastewater practices, according to a news release.

This year’s recipients and awards are:

•June Honsberger, La Costa Canyon High School, $2,000. For 13 years, Honsberger’s “Outdoor Laboratory” has provided a venue for International Baccalaureate students to conduct water-related investigations.

•Nancy Jois, Capri Elementary School, $1,500. Jois and students are producing a “No Wipes Down the Pipes” video to illustrate the damage sanitizing wipes can cause to wastewater collection systems. The video will be shared widely and aired during “Water Day,” a hands-on event to exhibit the work of Jois’s bilingual water cycle and pollution prevention program.

•Barbara Larson, Park Dale Lane Elementary School, $2,000. Larson’s “Rain Harvesters Improvements” project is designed to enhance on-campus rainwater harvesting systems, including upgrades to tanks, installation of a first-flush diverter, and the creation of student-designed, water-themed murals.

“These teachers are going the extra mile to engage their students in water education,” said General Manager Paul Bushee in the news release. “Through innovative, hands-on projects, they’re building a generation of environmental stewards that understands the importance of responsible water use and wastewater management.”

Established in 2008, the Teacher Grant Program has reached more than 20,000 community members to foster a broader understanding of sustainable practices and real-world water issues.Leucadia Wastewater District serves nearly 60,000 customers in a 16-square-mile area that includes La Costa, Leucadia and Village Park in Encinitas. Learn more at www.lwwd.org.