Secondary Webquest – Yr 7 Water as a Resource
Introduction
This webquest is about understanding the variability in water supply systems and nature of water
scarcity in different cities across Australia and comparing them to systems in other countries around
the world. It will also encourage students to think about potential solutions to water scarcity or ways
to minimize its impacts on the liveability of places.
National Curriculum Standards
ACHGK045 ‐ The influence of environmental quality on the liveability of places
ACHGK040 ‐ The nature of water scarcity and ways of overcoming it, including studies drawn from
Australia and West Asia and/or North Africa
ACHGK044 ‐ The influence of accessibility to services and facilities on the liveability of places
ACHGK039 ‐ The classification of environmental resources and the forms that water takes as a
resource
ACHGK039 ‐ The quantity and variability of Australia’s water resources compared with those in other
continents
ACHGK041 ‐ The economic, cultural, spiritual and aesthetic value of water for people, including
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and peoples of the Asia region
ACHGK042 ‐ The causes, impacts and responses to an atmospheric or hydrological hazard
Task
Water is essential for all living things and as humans, we use it in many ways – to drink, to clean our
bodies, clothes, food, houses and pets, for cooking, in manufacturing processes, for recreational
activities and even to make our environment aesthetically pleasing.
Most major cities around the world were built on or near a river system and many of the most
expensive residential homes are built with views over a water body. Grand fountains have been
constructed in public spaces and huge amounts of water are used to maintain public parks and gardens
for all to enjoy.
Your task is to look at the water supply systems used around Australia and also in either Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia, or Tripoli, Libya and to present on the pros and cons of using the source(s). You should make
recommendations for the future, taking into consideration population growth, sustainability of the
source(s), other options for drinking water supply and the implications for the liveability of the city.
You may present your results in an oral presentation, PowerPoint presentation, informative poster or
set up a debate with your partner(s).
Key questions
What makes a city “liveable”?
What environmental factors improve the liveability of a city?
How does climate vary across the major cities of Australia? Which cities receive large rainfall/little
rainfall?
What water sources are available to the major cities across Australia and does climate play a part in
this?
Is water scarcity a problem in Australia? Why/why not?
How does Australia’s water accessibility compare to other countries in West Asia and/or North Africa?
Process
Divide the class into 8 groups. Each group will be responsible for investigating the water supply system
in one of the following cities: Melbourne, Hobart, Darwin, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Sydney and
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia/ Tripoli, Libya. Students should investigate the source(s) of drinking water for
their designated city, reasons for why that city uses the source(s) and how both the water supply and
use in the city affects the liveability of the place – this may involve investigating climate data,
geographical location and topography of the city, population size and environmental “assets”.
Resources
Melbourne ‐ www.yvw.com.au/watersupplyforsecondary
Tasmania ‐ http://www.taswater.com.au/Community‐‐‐Environment/Your‐Water
ABC Tasmania Hydro Forum ‐ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014‐10‐31/hydro‐forum/5859246
Northern Territory ‐ https://www.powerwater.com.au/networks_and_infrastructure/water_services
South East Queensland ‐ http://www.seqwater.com.au/water‐supply
Western Australia ‐ https://www.watercorporation.com.au/water‐supply‐and‐services/rainfall‐and‐
dams/sources
South Australia ‐
http://sawater.com.au/SAWater/WhatsNew/WaterDataUpdate/ReservoirData/default.htm
Sydney ‐ http://www.sydneywater.com.au/SW/water‐the‐environment/how‐we‐manage‐sydney‐s‐
water/water‐network/index.htm
Saudi Arabia ‐ http://www.saudiembassy.net/about/country‐
information/agriculture_water/Water_Resources.aspx
Water in Saudi Arabia ‐ http://www.aawsat.net/2013/07/article55308131
Lake Erie, Saudi Arabia ‐
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com.au/environment/freshwater/saudi‐arabia‐water‐use/
Libya ‐ http://drinking‐water.org/html/en/Sources/Fossil‐Water‐in‐Libya.html
Great Man‐made River, Libya ‐ http://www.water‐technology.net/projects/gmr/
World’s Most Liveable City ‐ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World's_most_liveable_cities
Australian climate data ‐ http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/
Australian population ‐ http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/mf/3222.0
100 Years of Drought in Australia http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014‐02‐26/100‐years‐of‐
drought/5282030
Evaluation (sample)
Beginning
1
Collaboration
with Peers
Group
presentation
Presentation
organisation
Presentation
content
Presentation
Student does
not participate
appropriately in
peer
discussions.
Developing
2
Qualified
3
Student works
Student shares
some information well with other
with others and students, speaks
and listens to
listens to other
other well.
students some of
the time. Off‐task Minimal off‐task
time.
frequently.
Exemplary
4
Student is an
exemplary
listener and
leader and
shares these
roles equally.
Student remains
on task during
group work.
Student
Student accepted
accepted
Student made
responsibilities
responsibilities
little
for research and for research and
contribution to
did full share of
contributed to
research, or
construction of constructing the
presentation.
presentation.
the
presentation.
Presentation is
Presentation is
Presentation is
extremely well
mostly well
somewhat well
No apparent
organised and
organised and
organised but
organisation to
displays excellent
displays some
includes minimal
presentation.
creativity and
originality
originality
originality.
Information
Information
Information
relates to pros or
does not relate Some information
relates to pros
to pros or cons relates to pros or
cons of water
or cons of water
cons of water
of water source.
source and most
source and
source and
Information
environmental
many
includes some
relating to
concerns are
environmental
environmental
environmental
raised.
concerns are
concerns.
concerns is
Information is
included
missing.
well organised.
Engages
Engages
audience
audience and
through
holds their
Did not attempt Little attempt is
creativity and a
attention most
to engage the
made to engage
clearly focused
of the time.
audience. No
audience.
presentation.
Sequence of
logical order
Content is loosely
Presentation is
presentation is
apparent.
connected.
mostly well
extremely well
organised.
organised.
Student accepted
some
responsibility for
research, but
made little
contribution to
construction of
the presentation.
Score