Lesson 1

Learning intention

We are learning to identify the issue with litter in both our school and community.

We are learning about peoples behaviours around litter and identifying ways that we can improve the amounts of litter ending up in the Georges River.

Success criteria

We will be able to identify where litter is coming from and collecting in our school.

Students will be able to communicate their findings with the wider school community.

Reflecting on the supporting stimulus materials, students will create solutions to the problems identified as part of the stormwater audit.

What is the current situation in your school?

Activity : Stormwater Investigation

Many schools have large areas of hard surfaces like car parks, basketball courts, assembly areas or concrete quadrangles. These hard surfaces increase the amount of run-off after rain. This run-off, collects as surface water and can carry dirt and rubbish with it to the nearest surface water drain. These drains form part of a local stormwater network, which lead to the nearest waterway.

By doing a stormwater investigation, you can:

find out what pollutants get into drains from your school
work out the source of these pollutants
create a Stormwater Management Plan to reduce pollution in the drains

help to reduce stormwater pollution in local waterways

Special note, this stormwater investigation is focused on surface water drains and a safety talk will be given before this activity takes place.

Stormwater Investigation

You will need your A3 map of drains and stormwater data for this activity

Using your annotated A3 school map you might like to add:

Shade (orange) any litter/waste hot spots in the school.
Label map with anything relevant to the investigation and finish by creating a map legend.

Using the Stormwater Drain Litter Record Sheet (found in resources):

We will now narrow in on the worse polluted areas of the school.
Circle and number the 5 most polluted drains in the school on the Map and then record these on the Stormwater Drain Litter Record Sheet.
Record each of the drains contents in Table 1. If it is not safe to do so, record what you can see without removing the drain grate (a torch might help at this point).
Explain then the pollution source (where pollution is coming from) for each drain. Remember pollution can be: plastic rubbish, oil, chemicals, soaps and detergents, paint, leaf litter and grass clippings, excessive algae growth.

Valuation

After our investigation we will discuss results as a class and organise our information to be used in your School Stormwater Action Plan. Your findings should be presented at your next School assembly so that everyone understands the problem you aim to improve.
We will then brainstorm ideas - how can we improve the problems we found?
Any ways that stormwater could be cleaner before leaving the school.
As a group start to think about what processes would be needed to influence a project in own school and local community.
Prioritise ideas and decide on a realistic action that supports the 'Zero Litter in Georges River' goal.

What are the issues with litter in rivers?

Drains to waterways

Unlike water that goes down a toilet or sink, stormwater does not go through a water treatment facility before it flows into the Georges River. Everything that goes down the street drain could end up in our creeks and rivers. In this video of a model town you can see how rainwater washes pollution to the river.

Pollutant Trap (GPT) being emptied

What’s a GPT?

GPTs are Gross Pollutant Traps installed by your local council to help stop some of the larger litter ending up in waterways. They do not capture microplastics, chemicals or microbes. There are many different types of GPTs. GPTs can quickly get full and stop working, especially if there’s been lots of rain. You can’t always see GPTs as many are located underground. Let’s have a look at one and the rubbish it

Down the Drain

A short film about storm water drains, where they go, naturalised vs unnaturalised ones, and what you can do to help, as they all end up in our rivers and harbours.

Check out how this PLC student has told the story of drains with the intent of increasing awareness and showcasing better ways of caring for our waterways.

AUSMAP

AUSMAP is the bridge between a massive problem and the solutions.

It is designed to document and analyse microplastic pollution in Australian aquatic environments. The Total Environment Centre (TEC) and Macquarie University are the project leaders, working with a consortium of research, environment, education, government and sustainable business organisations.

Where rubbish goes

An amazing virtual journey by NSW EPA, 'Don't be a tosser campaign'. It is a 'choose you own adventure' type journey.

Return & Earn

More than three billion bottles and cans for recycling through the Return and Earn network – and that’s in just over two years.

Importantly, three billion containers represents tens of thousands of tonnes of plastic, glass and aluminium that has been diverted from the local environment and landfill to be recycled into new products.

Ways we can help keep our waterways clean

Ballina Shire Council has developed a fantastic video that highlights the impacts of behaviour on our waterways.

Our gutters and drains are all part of a large stormwater system. When it rains, stormwater runoff from our streets and homes can wash dirt, litter and other pollutants into our waterways.

Stormwater and Pollution

Freddy explains how stormwater and sewage are both part of the 'urban water cycle' but are different systems of water. Sewage is the waste water that drains from toilets, sinks and laundry and drains inside buildings. Whereas Stormwater is rainwater that falls on all the outside surfaces such as roofs, roads, driveways, carparks etc. Stormwater flows too quickly over these hard surfaces and pollution is washed into waterways and into the river.

What are you going to do NOW?

Before your next lesson with GREEC you need to have completed an activity that was inspired by your Stormwater Investigation and litter learning. Write down what that next activity will be... Suggestions include a presentation for your school assembly, an article for the newsletter or posters that can be displayed around the school.

Go to Lesson 2