Picton High School
Senior Science
Year 11 2012
Due Date: 12 March
Water for Living Assessment Task
Water Supplies in Australian Cities
Water is a valuable substance in Australia. Cities couldn’t exist without a consistent supply
of drinking water and methods of dealing with the waste that is generated by the
population of a city. In this research assignment you will be investigating the water supply
and waste management of some of Australia’s cities.
Outcomes Assessed:
Identifies applications of science that affect society and the environment.
Identifies the origin of Earth’s resources.
Identifies appropriate terminology and reporting styles to communicate information and understanding in
science.
This task contributes 15% to the total assessment of the Year 11 course.
Task:
A. Sources of water supply
Compare and contrast the sources of water supply for Adelaide, Canberra, Perth, and Sydney.
Include dams and their location; rivers and their source; aquifers, and desalination plants.
How are the waters treated before going to the cities? (a general overview is required)
List possible pollutants and unwanted substances, such as Na Cl, in each water supply.
Explain the source/s of each pollutant and the required processes to remove it from the water supply.
B. The treatment of waste water.
How are the waste waters treated before disposal in Canberra and on Sydney?
Include the processes in sewage treatment, where the components of the treated waste end up and
any recycling that occurs.
The report should be a minimum of 1500 words. Diagrams must be included, and do not contribute to
the word count. All diagrams must be correctly referenced. A bibliography using the Harvard System
of referencing must be included with the report. The sheet attached showing the marking criteria
must be returned.
Marking Criteria
Student Name: ____________________
Marking Sheet included with report, with student name included
Water Sources for Adelaide
Correctly lists all sources
Correctly lists some sources
Incorrect sources listed
No sources listed
Possible pollutants
Correctly lists all pollutants
Correctly lists some pollutants
No pollutants listed
Water Sources for Canberra
Correctly lists all sources
Correctly lists some sources
Incorrect sources listed
No sources listed
Possible pollutants
Correctly lists all pollutants
Correctly lists some pollutants
No pollutants listed
Water Sources for Perth
Correctly lists all sources
Correctly lists some sources
Incorrect sources listed
No sources listed
Possible pollutants
Correctly lists all pollutants
Correctly lists some pollutants
No pollutants listed
Water Sources for Sydney
Correctly lists all sources
Correctly lists some sources
Incorrect sources listed
No sources listed
Possible pollutants
Correctly lists all pollutants
Correctly lists some pollutants
No pollutants listed
Comparison of the processes used in the cities
Extensive, cogent and correct comparison
Cogent and correct comparison
Basic description
Incorrect or not included
How is river water treated?
Extensive and accurate explanation
Correct explanation
Basic explanation
Incorrect or absent
How desalination works?
Extensive and accurate explanation
Correct explanation
Basic explanation
Incorrect or absent
Water treatment processes in Canberra
All stages listed and explained
Most stages listed and explained
Some stages listed and explained
0/1
3
2
0
0
2
1
0
3
2
0
0
2
1
0
3
2
0
0
2
1
0
3
2
0
0
2
1
0
3
2
1
0
3
2
1
0
3
2
1
0
4
3
1
Not included
0
Recycling ?
Water treatment processes in Sydney
All stages listed and explained
Most stages listed and explained
Some stages listed and explained
Not included
0/1/2
Recycling ?
Bibliography
Presented
Correctly cited
1 – 5 references
5 – 10 references
>10 references
Total
0/1/2
4
3
1
0
1
1
1
2
3
/46