About 600,000 rural Albertans (20% of the population) get their drinking water from private water systems, which often have poor water quality. The Safe Drinking Water Foundation of Saskatchewan launched its Operation: Water Drop program into Alberta in 2002, focusing on rural schools. The program promotes the understanding of the science of water, water treatment and water quality to young students. The students survey the area surrounding their drinking water supply, inventory the potential sources of contamination and develop an action plan outlining changes that may improve or protect their source water.
The program involves testing the quality of local drinking water and integrates with the new Grade 8 science unit Fresh and Salt Water Ecosystems. Teachers are provided with a Teacher's Manual containing background information as well as lesson plans and fully equipped water test kits.
"...the students enjoyed the activities throughly...I believe it was of great benefit for all involved to heighten the awareness of the need to protect and manage our water supplies." - Cindy Clay from Menno Simons Community School in Cleardale, AB -
