From how water is delivered from source to tap, to what happens after it’s flushed down the toilet, Reception to Year 7 students from around the South East learnt all the ins and outs of water and wastewater management in South Australia, as part of an interactive program led by SA Water.
SA Water’s extensive, curriculum-aligned education program ‘The Well’ provides tours, workshops and interactive learning across the state each year, catering to students from reception through to university.
SA Water’s Brand, Communications and Media Acting Senior Manager Kellie McDonald said it was important people of all ages understood the value of water and the role they can play in protecting this essential service.
“The feedback we get from students taking part in our on-site and in-school activities is they love discovering the fascinating process of water treatment, and they always ask some great questions, such as how can water be recycled?,” she said.
“It was fantastic that we took The Well on the road, with our Education Specialist Jade visiting Robe Primary School, Mount Gambier High School, St Martin’s Lutheran College, Suttontown Primary School, Mundulla Primary School and Tintinara Primary School.
“Using props and interactive discussion, we took students on the journey of water, providing a more technical look at water treatment, and encouraging students to think about their own responsible water use.”
In the South East region, the drinking water SA Water provides is sourced from either groundwater or the River Murray, or a combination of both.
Groundwater also recharges the Blue Lake, which is the primary water source in Mount Gambier.
“We aim to teach students to appreciate the enormous amount of work that goes into making sure this safe, clean water is available when they turn on the tap and the environmental benefits of reusing treated wastewater, which in South Australia is recycled for uses from toilet flushing to irrigating green open spaces.” Ms McDonald said.
“Our education sessions are a fun way for students and teachers to discover valuable insights into water and wastewater processes, sustainability practices and how we deliver services every day to more than 1.7 million South Australians.”
