A VILLAGE primary school is hiding a surprising secret underneath its grounds – and using it in a very clever way.
Sitting just below the Welsh classrooms and playground is an ancient thermal spring, and it's now being used to keep students warm.
That's because the geothermal water is now running through the school's pipes – replacing its gas heating – and beating the energy crisis.
This is seeing Ffynnon Taf Primary School's 200 pupils reap the rewards of the spring, which was said to have been discovered around 5,000 years ago.
The warm spring water bubbles up on the banks of the River Taff, and now engineers have directed the constant 21C water from Taff's Well near Cardiff to the school.
Jason Taylor, the regional director at builders Kier Construction, said it was "fantastic" to see the school making the most of the "same spring that put Taff's Well on the map".
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He continued: "Projects like this don’t come around often and it’s a great opportunity for us to showcase how our expertise can benefit our clients in enhancing their sustainability."
Local historians say the spring was discovered 5,000 years ago, and was popular with the Romans when they settled in Wales 3,000 years later.
Then, in the 19th century it attracted many as it was said to have reputed healing properties.
The Victorians believed the well could heal rheumatism and visitors swarmed the village to cure their diseases.
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Now, the warm water runs through a series of heat pumps in the school to heat the Victorian block and a new extension.
A spokesperson from Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council said: "We are proud of how the Taffs Well Thermal Spring has been utilised to heat the new school block.
"This is an innovative project and will help towards achieving our wider Climate Change goals and commitments.”
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