Primary school students from five Darwin schools presented their ideas for solutions to Darwin’s water challenges today, coinciding with the start of National Water Week (18-24 October).

The presentation of these projects marked the end of the students’ engagement with the That’s My Water! curriculum unit, a 10-week program developed by Power and Water Corporation.

The program aims to improve awareness of how water is sourced and treated and encourages students to creatively address water security challenges.

“We are dedicated to shaping the future of the Territory, but it’s also important to us that the next generation of leaders and water users have a say in this too,” Power and Water Manager Water Demand Jethro Laidlaw said.

“In the years we have been running this program in schools, we have always been impressed and inspired by the students’ creativity, innovation and passion about Darwin’s water future.”

That’s My Water! has been running for six years and has been taught in 30 schools to 3,544 students. It was developed in partnership with the Bureau of Meteorology, Charles Darwin University and the Department of Environment, Parks and Water Security.

The unit draws strongly on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and engages students on the importance of water and the challenges facing their water supply.

The students’ final projects spanned multiple learning areas, including science, geography and music, and included dioramas, audio visual presentations, posters, music and online games.

Mr Laidlaw said the unit empowered students to encourage others around them to be water efficient, to understand water supply issues and to look for solutions.

“We all know water is a precious and a finite resource, and it’s up to all of us to do our bit to value the water coming out of our taps just as much as we do our beautiful natural rivers and waterholes,” he said.

The expo event was held at the George Brown Botanic Gardens and attended by students, teachers, parents and industry representatives.

The participating schools were Dripstone Middle School, Wulagi Primary School, Nightcliff Primary School and St Pauls Primary School and Berry Springs Primary School.

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