Introduction

What a strange lot we are! We live on the driest continent on Earth yet Australia has one of the highest consumptions of water per capita in the world.

We are fortunate that Melbourne has some of the highest quality drinking water in the world, sourced from protected, wilderness catchments - but this water supply can not be taken for granted.

It is our lifestyle that encourages us to overuse our water resources. Many of us take long showers, and we rarely worry about wasting water when we wash our clothes and maintain our European-style gardens.

Of course, it all comes to a head during a drought. Drought is a normal part of climate variability, although some scientists are now predicting that southern Australia will constantly face lower rainfall as a result of global warming. We are now into the sixth consecutive year of drought. People in rural areas across Australia have been suffering for some time - and now city dwellers are facing water restrictions.

With changes in attitude and the introduction of practical measures, we can all change the way we use water.

How can this program help?

Knowing there is a water shortage is one thing but doing something about it is another. The Home Water Investigator was developed to help students explore their water usage around the home - in the bathroom, the kitchen, the laundry, as well as outside in the garden. They can investigate different situations and explore ways of becoming more economical with water. It can also be a starting point to explore wider issues associated with water conservation and sustainability.

For the student, the Home Water Investigator aims to increase their knowledge of water, sewage and stormwater usage, and to encourage them to consider appropriate conservation habits and attitudes.

For the teacher, Home Water Investigator provides many opportunities to link the classroom to broader community issues and to make the curriculum more relevant to the lives and interests of students.