Two Year 11 Chemistry classes visited the Adelaide Desalination Plant at Lonsdale. The day began in the reception centre where we met Dan, our guide, who is the SA Water Education Advisor Dan. Dan welcomed the students and explained why the Desalination Plant was built before diving into the world of water security by playing a water management game. We also learnt about reverse osmosis and the economic and environmental impacts of desalination.
Kildare staff then went on to explain to the students what it was like living under water restrictions during the millennium drought from 2001 to 2009.
We then hopped on and off our bus as we toured around the site. One of the highlights was viewing the very, very deep intake and outtake tunnels, which begin deep underneath the Desalination Plant below sea level.
The students were interested to learn about the energy saving devices that are employed to try and improve the efficiency of the process. An important outcome of the excursion is that the students get to see first-hand the interaction between science and society, specifically politics, economics, and the environment.
Sally Morgan
Chemistry Teacher
