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Monash Science Centre

Water Science for Secondary Schools
 

Web Based e-Learning

The Web Based activities in this section may be used without accessing the school excursion but can be supported by the resources on the School Excursion page. 

3D Virtual Animation

Click on the link to view the 3D Animation virtual animation of the Jock Marshall Reserve.

  • You may have to download an add-in to your computer first - best viewed with Internet Explorer.
  • Follow the animation around the reserve and when you get to a sampling point, press ‘Q for more information on the object’.
  • Then click on the ‘Automated Water Quality Sensor’ link to open an Excel spreadsheet containing water measurement data.

The data presented shows water quality measurements over a number of days around rain events at the reserve.  Five parameters are shown across three sampling points (stormwater outlet, lake inlet and lake outlet):

  • pH - a measure of acidity or alkalinity on a pH scale of 0 to 14. pH may affect solubility of substances, nutrient uptake by plants, and survival of organisms.
  • Temperature - aquatic organisms thrive in specific water temperatures. If this fluctuates organisms may not function effectively becoming more susceptible to disease. Extreme changes may even result in death.
  • Conductivity - a measure of how well water conducts electricity. Pure water is a poor conductor, as metals enter a water system, ions are forms and the level of conductivity rises indicating the presence of metals.
  • Turbidity - a measure of opacity of the water caused by suspended materials such as clay, silt, sand, algae, plankton, micro-organisms etc. Turbidity affects how far light can penetrate into the water.
  • Dissolved Oxygen - The quantity of oxygen in water (NOT oxygen atoms found in a water molecule). Oxygen is essential for almost all organisms. Dissolved Oxygen is obtained from the air and aquatic plants.

Task: download the excel spreadsheet and use it to map the flow of water through the three sampling points to determine any changes in the water quality parameters.

There are a number of factors at play in this system, some questions to consider include:

  • Is there a change in the parameters between the three sampling points over time?
  • How are the parameters effected after a rain event?
  • Does the size of the rain event have an effect on the parameters?
  • Which parameter is the most sensitive to change?
  • The biofiltration wetland is between the stormwater outlet and the lake inlet - can you determine if the wetland has any effect on the parameters?

Water Flow Animation

Click on the link to view the animation (mpg 20Mb).

  • Follow a water droplet on its journey as rain falling on the carpark, through the stormwater drain and into the Jock Marshall Reserve.
  • Watch as the water droplet passes through soil particles, as water plant roots absorb impurities from the water in the wetland biofilter and finally as it enters the lake in clear filtered water.