STUDENTS at Melville Senior High School discovered how seawater is turned into fresh drinking water during a visit from Water Corporation as part of World Water Day on Wednesday.
Water Corporation general manager customer and community group Catherine Ferrari said students were taught the science behind desalination, where seawater is forced under high pressure through a fine membrane to remove the salt and other matter.
The process is called reverse osmosis.
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READ NOW“Recent surveys have shown nearly two-thirds of people in Perth aged 18 to 35 do not know where their drinking water comes from, with most assuming it is still rainwater collected in our dams,” Ms Ferrari said.
“Desalinated water now makes up nearly half of all drinking water supplied to Perth residents, as it is a climate-independent water source.”
Ms Ferrari said it was important younger West Australians were aware of how precious water was in our drying climate.
Melville Senior High School geography teacher Tracy Fynmore said students were learning about the impact of climate change and the effect it has on the long-term sustainability of Perth’s water supply.
“Finding out how Water Corporation has planned for more climate resilient water sources is a great way of reinforcing that sustainability message,” Ms Fynmore said.