Rosmini College -- Water Quality Project
Water Quality -- Hillcrest Stream, North Shore, New Zealand.
2023.
A preliminary survey of fresh water quality was undertaken (twice) to try and gain an understanding of the water that flows in the Hillcrest Stream, and possibly link it with a developing estuarine water quality project that will measure salt water quality and fresh water mixing where the stream flows into the Auckland Harbour.
Hillcrest Stream is an urban stream that flows into the Auckland Harbour very close to Roismini College. It presents an excellent 'laboratory' for students to learn how the quality of water is linked to human activities -- both negative and positive.
Design and fabrication of an estuarine (real time) water quality monitoring buoy has begun with a targeted deployment date of February 2024.
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2024.
1. Establish the need
2. Determining testing needed to monitor water quality
a. Fresh water chemistry
b. Fresh water macroinvertebrates
c. Fresh water litter
d. Estuarine monitoring
3. Discover the PARTNERS within the TOTCUS and local communities
4. Link water quality with the environmental improvement actions
5. Link to school curriculum
6. Action Education programme
7. Monitoring procedures and timetable
8. Share and publish results.
9. Replicate and link with other TOTCUS sites.
The Hiilcrest Stream enters the Auckland Harbour in the bottom right corner of this Google Earth photograph). The stream is intertidal to just below the oval sports field in the middle of the photograph.
We first explored (in order to practice our methodology) a body of water (flood spillway) adjacent to our school fields. The spillway was designed to reduce flooding upstream when high volumes of freshwater would not be able to enter the harbour at high tides. That location was just below the tennis courts to the south of Rosmini College (upper right). Extreme stream flows can often back up onto the Rosmini College fields.
With the help of Mr. Ross Martin, Auckland Council Sustainability expert, we paid a second visit to above the intertidal mark. This location is just east of the road crossing in the middle of the Google Earth aerial photograph.
Click through the carousel of photographs taken on our third testing trip.
Results will be published here soon.
Photograph of the tidal section of the lower Hillcrest Stream near the Akoranga Bus Station.
The students learned about the delicate balance between human activities and the natural environment. They were also able to witness the beauty of Lake Pupuke and appreciate the importance of preserving it for future generations. Teachers involved were our principal, Mr Cooper, who, along with Mrs Hobbs, covered the formation of Lake Pupuke; Ms Jeong, Mr Mistry, Mr Ward, Mr Pygott and Ms Perera, involved with water testing with Ms Dias; Mr Pham, Mr Malaitai, Mrs Callagher, Mr Kim and Miss Fernandes and Mrs Phang covering the conservation and environmental impact of pollution in the environment Throughout the first block of the day the students were actively engaged in various activities such as water testing, discussing ecological issues, and brainstorming ways to make a positive impact on the environment. It was an excellent opportunity for the students to learn about sustainability, conservation, fostering hope and care for the environment. Overall, it was a fun and educational experience that left a lasting impression on the students.