Technology in Primary Schools (TiPS) Inc. KDC Built Environment Water Challenge 2009

95 % of your eyes is water. 90% of your lungs is water. 82% of your blood is water. The water on our Earth can be broken down into the following: Oceans and seas = 97% Polar ice caps and glaciers = 2.25% Underground water = 0.74% Fresh water in rivers and lakes = 0.01%

We learnt these things about water: Approximately 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered in water. Water also exists in the Earth’s atmosphere as tiny particles. If you look at the Earth from space it is mainly blue (which is the colour of the water struck by sunlight). There is only a small amount of fresh water to be shared amongst the world’s population of 6 billion.

Water use at Macquarie Fields PS What water issues did we find: Not enough water for the gardens and playing fields Any rain that falls goes down the drain No rain water is harvested No water tanks Who uses the water: Students Teachers Staff Parents Cleaners Visitors Canteen workers Workmen/women What water is used for: Toilets Drinking Washing hands Watering Filling containers Cooking Cleaning

Drip, Drip, Drip The investigation involved measuring the drip from a tap for I minute and record the results. We repeated the process 3 times. What we observed was that each time we got a different measurement. The tap kept dripping at a different rate each time we counted it, therefore we found this to be an unfair test. We found that if we left the tap dripping it would waste a lot of drinking water, after an hour about 1.68 litres would be wasted. During Term 3 our class investigated how much drinking water gets wasted when a tap is left dripping.

to investigate water use in the local area identify a water issue to be addressed identify a water issue to be addressed design and present a proposal design and present a proposal to reduce consumption of drinking water at school or in the local area. to reduce consumption of drinking water at school or in the local area.

identify a water issue to be addressed identify a water issue to be addressed

There is hardly any biodiversity Kids use this site for play at recess and lunch Kids use this site for PE and sport lessons.

H a r v e s t t h e r a i n w a t e r t h a t f a l l s o n o u r s c h o o l b u i l d i n g s

design and present a proposaldesign and present a proposal Design Brief: Design and propose a way to keep the playground covered with grass without wasting our precious drinking water. Criteria: Rain water tanks must also promote water-saving strategies and images; The power to operate the pump must be from a renewable source

The site also has a walking track and ……. From the classrooms the grassed area is on a slight slope – about 2 metres. we want to create greater biodiversity and interest for the users of the site;

We could decorate the water tanks with pictures and water saving messages

Our Inspiration Monarch Oval, next door to our school, is laying irrigation pipes and sprinklers which is laying irrigation pipes and sprinklers which access water from two large rainwater tanks. We want to do the same. This oval is larger than our grassed playground This oval is larger than our grassed playground so two water tanks attached to our classrooms should be plenty. so two water tanks attached to our classrooms should be plenty. We will power the system with solar energy.

Monarch Oval – getting ready for a new sprinkler system

Two large rain water storage tanks to harvest the water to be used in the new irrigation system.

But … Question:Water can’t travel uphill so how will we get water to the playground? Thomas: We could use a pump. Question:But how will we power the pump? Chris: We could use electricity. Problem:But electricity is expensive … Nahin:We could use solar power … just put the solar panels on the roof of the classroom. Then they could make the pump work.

Demountables to be removed and replaced with new classrooms Our north facing Classroom - solar panels to be positioned on roof of existing and proposed new classrooms

Who can help? There are companies that specialise in the supply and installation of irrigation and water supply needs. One such company is Austec Irrigation.

Austec has everything our school would need for our water requirements. Their team of professionals are capable of meeting any irrigation or water supply needs and they currently supply and install for a number of schools.

Austec Irrigation is a local company that supply a wide range of irrigation equipment, specialising in pumps, tanks, sprinklers, controllers, and solenoid valves.

Save Our Water – It’s Our Most Precious Resource!

“Together, we can provide safe, clean water to all the world’s people. The world’s water resources are our lifeline for survival, and for sustainable development in the 21st century. Together, we must manage them better”. Kofi A. Annan