In this lesson, students study the availability of water on Earth and discuss methods that can be used to purify and conserve this critical resource. Using multimedia interactives, video, and classroom activities, they will identify sources of fresh water available for consumption, understand the need for water conservation, and compare the benefits and drawbacks of different water management techniques. ... Full description.

Dams are widely distributed throughout the U.S. Their impact is perhaps most apparent in western cities, many of which lack a sufficient local water supply and thus rely on water diverted from far-away sources, particularly man-made lakes. This video segment shows how the city of Denver, Colorado, faced with a growing water crisis, developed and later abandoned a plan for a nearby dam and instead ... Full description.

This is an introduction to a module on water conservation. It presents the concepts of limited supply, the water cycle, and the impact by and on populations. It gives an overview of water conservation and what would happen without it. Full description.

This lesson plan is designed to help students apply the pollution prevention (P2) concept to water. It contains the needed background information about water pollution and provides guidance and activities to help students describe water uses and sources, explain why water conservation is important, and explain how pollution prevention concepts can be used to conserve water and prevent water pollution. ... Full description.

This student workbook presents information on the Edwards Aquifer, which is the primary source of water for about 1.7 million people in the Austin and San Antonio area of Texas. Although primarily concerned with the Edwards Aquifer, the workbook provides information on aquifers in general including the water cycle, groundwater, and the formation of an aquifer. The current and future use of the Edwards ... Full description.

This reading list consists of books with conservation themes about water and includes scientific treatments of water pollution and conservation. The list is divided into three sections: Elementary School, Middle School, and High School/Adult. Title, author's name, and a brief description of each book is provided. A few of the books for younger readers are available in Spanish. Full description.

A recent report stated that in the next decade or so, nearly half of the world's population will live in countries whose water supplies are over-stressed. In parts of Africa, northern China, southern Asia, and the Middle East, water is already being pumped from aquifers faster than it is being replenished. In India, the water table is falling 1-3 m (3-10 ft) per year. This video segment, adapted from ... Full description.

Ground water is the primary source for both municipal and industrial water supplies throughout the world. Some of the world's largest and fastest-growing cities depend heavily on natural aquifers that collect and store ground water. When ground water supplies are withdrawn faster than they naturally replenish, problems arise. This video segment, adapted from the television program 'Last Oasis', shows ... Full description.

The materials presented here help make the case for water conservation by residential water users. Users can study conservation tips, suggestions for leak detection and repair, and learn about program services provided by the Portland Water Bureau such as cash incentives for buying water-saving appliances, a request form for ordering conservation devices, and community events and workshops. Though ... Full description.

Humans depend on freshwater for drinking as well as for domestic, agricultural, and industrial uses. Careless and wasteful use of this renewable but high-demand natural resource contributes to water depletion. This video segment provides a look at a house in Tuscon, Arizona that is equipped with water conservation devices that cut its household water consumption in half. There is also discussion of ... Full description.