Group Members: _____ _______________

Bonner, Edward (Adelaide High

School)
Science/Maths PBL Project
 Surfs Up in the Torrens
 
Table of Contents   

Pages 1 Table of Contents

Page 2 Project Overview

Pages 3 Map of school to River Torrens walking trail 

Page 4 Data Collection Table

Page 5 Activity 1: Water temperature test

Page 6 Activity 2: pH level Test

Page 7 Activity 3: Water salinity test

Page 8 & 9 Activity 4: Water Bug Identification

Page 10 Activity 5: Turbidity Investigation

Page 11 Activity 6: Land Survey

Page 12 Activity 7: Field Sketch

Page 13 Activity 8: Observational Walk

Page 14 Extra Notes, Pictures, and Diagrams 

Page 15 Activity 7: Field Sketch

1
Project Overview:
‘Surf’s up’ in the
Torrens
Project: You are a Researcher who has been
given the task to investigate why the River Torrens can no longer be used for local swimming
and what improvements can made to fix it.

Background: The River Torrens was once used by the

local indigenous Kaurna people who called it Karrawirra
Pari (red gum forest river). It was a valuable resource
area and a favourite camping place for the Kaurna
people, providing water, fish, and other foods. It was
also a favourite swimming place for the locals. Sadly
though, over the past 150 years, we humans have
impacted the Torrens so much that it is now
uninhabitable for some native animals, and we can no longer swim there. What can we do to
fix this? All living things need to be sustained by their environment. How we can we bring the
River Torrens back to its glory days before we damaged it?

Task: You and your small team of researchers, need to find out what is wrong with the
Torrens, and how the community can restore it to its glory days? How can we make it future
ready?

Presentation of work: You will present your findings in a website and display it to the
community and your families in Week 8 of Term 3. Let’s bring back the Torrens!

The following inquiry questions will help guide your research:

How can swimming in the River Torrens become a possibility in our lifetime?

Consider: 1. What are the variables affecting water quality?

2. How have humans impacted the River Torrens over the past 150 years?

3. How can we improve the Torrens for us and the native local animals? 2
 Part A: Walk to the Weir near Bonython Park
from Adelaide High School. Also the return
journey to Adelaide High School at the end of
the day. Weir

Part B: Walk to the AHS Boat shed from the

Weir. Lunch will be eaten here for all Villages
before we swap over. Lunch

3
 Data Collection Table
In your team of 3, complete the following tests and use the table below to record your data:

Type of test 1 2 3 4 5

Temperature of the
water (Degrees
Celsius)

Water Salinity

MicroSiemens per
centimeter

EC units

Electrial Conductivity

Ph Levels

pH Units

(0 highly acidic, 7
neutral, 14 highly
alkaline)

Water Turbidity

(NTU) Nephelometric
Turbitity Units

4
 Activity 1: Water Temperature
What is Water Temperature?

Water temperature is how hot or cold the water is. The

units for measuring water temperature is degrees Celsius
(oC)

Why is water temperature important?

If the water temperature changes from what the plants

and animals are used to, they can get sick or sometimes
die.

Warmer water can be saltier and hold less oxygen. Warmer water can make plants grow
faster.

What causes water temperature to change?

Air temperature, the amount of shade from trees, soil in the water, warm water entering
from factories, stormwater flowing over hot land surfaces.

How to measure water temperature

1- Place the thermometer a few centimetres into the water.

2- Wait 1 minute until the reading stabilises.
3- Read the temperature while still in the water.
4- Record the results in the observation results table. Repeat Steps 1-3, five more times.
5- Rinse and dry the thermometer.
6- Replace it into the container.

Alternate Testing Kit – Probs and Handheld computer

5
 1. Collect water sample.
2. Place the Temperature probe so that most of it is in the water.
3. Leave in the water until the probe reads the temperature. Remove, stabilise and take
5 more measurements.
4. Remove from the water and dry before replacing it in the container.

Activity 2: Ph Levels
What is pH?

PH is how acidic or alkaline the water is. Battery

acid, lemon and vinegar are very acidic while soap,
bleach and limestone are very alkaline.

Why is pH important?

If the pH of water is outside the normal range for

water animals or plants, it can cause stress or even
death.

What causes pH to change?

Rainfall, acidic soils, pollution, stormwater

How to measure pH

1- Collect water sample

2- Place the pH strip in the sample -leave some to hold onto
3- Leave in the water for 1 minute for the colour to develop
4- Take the strip out leave it to dry for 1 minute.

5- Compare the colour with the colour chart provided

6
Alternate Testing Kit – Probes and Handheld computer

5. Collect water sample.

6. Place the pH probe into the water and record the pH measurements in the table (on
page 5).
7. Leave in the water until the probe reads the temperature. Take 5 measurements.
8. Remove from the water and dry before replacing it in the container.

Activity 3: Water Salinity Test

What is salinity?

Salinity tells us how much salt is in the water.

Why is salinity important?

Different waters have various levels of salt for example

seawater has lots of salt and usually freshwater stream,
pond and rivers have very little salt. If the salinity of
water is outside the normal range for water animals or
plants, it can cause stress or even death.

What causes Salinity to change?

Farming, mining, urban development, removing trees, rainfall, and stormwater

How to measure water salinity (conductivity) -Probes and Handheld computer

1. Collect water sample.

2. Place the Salinity probe into the water and record the salinity measurements
in the table (on page 5). Take 5 measurements.
3. Leave in the water until the probe reads the salinity level.
4. Remove from the water and dry before replacing it in the container.

7
8
 Activity 4: Water Bug Testing
What is water bug testing?

The water bugs living in your water can tell you about the water quality and how
healthy the water is. Water bugs include lots of different insects including
shrimp, worms, muscles snails etc. They are especially important part of the food
chain.

Catching water bugs

Different waters have various levels of salt for example seawater has lots of salt
and usually freshwater stream, pond and rivers have very little salt. If the salinity
of water is outside the normal range for water animals or plants, it can cause
stress or even death.

How to sort the water bugs:

1. Collect the water sample using the large net as shown in image 1 above.
2. Sift out the water until you are left with the water bugs.
3. Using the laminated bug identification sheet and your magnifying glass,
determine what water bugs you have found.
4. Make a record of them in your excursion workbook below.

9
Water Bug Found Tally Frequency

10
 Activity 5: Turbidity Investigation
What is Turbidity?

Turbidity is a measure of how murky or dirty the water is. It is caused by soil and
other particles like algae.

Why is turbidity important?

Murky or turbid water can stop plants getting the sunlight they need to grow. This
lead to less oxygen and food for animals.

The particles in murky water can clog up fish gills, makes them sick and even killing
them.

What causes Salinity to change?

Erosion, Land Clearing, Pollution, Fires, Algal blooms

How to measure turbidity

1. Collect water sample.

2. Carefully pour the sample into the turbidity tube while looking down at the
tube.
3. Stop pouring when you can barely see the lines.
4. Record the turbidity level (use the scale to support with your assessment)
5. Remove from the water and dry before replacing it in the container.

Units for Turbidity

Turbidity is measured in Nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU) from 10 (low

turbidity) to 500 (high turbidity)

11
 Activity 6: Land Survey- Rubbish waste
investigation

Brief: In your groups, use the following equipment to

complete a rubbish waste survey of the banks of the River
Torrens.

Equipment- Buckets, tongs, storage trays and rubber gloves.

Task:

Identify different types of waste and categories them into the following groups.

Hard plastics, soft plastics, biodegradables, and metals.

Take a picture of your sorted collection and comment of the overall sample size.

Please ensure that your groups sample is put in the appropriate bins provided.

12
 Activity 7: Field Sketch
*To be completed by hand *

Brief: Field sketches are an effective way of recording observations made during fieldwork –
the outside- the-classroom learning experiences that have a geographical or scientific focus
or intent. A Field sketch helps you document the location of a study site relative to the
surrounding area, as well as provide location information about important features within
your study site.

Task: Your task is to create a A4 field sketch

of the Torrens River ecosystem you are
investigating. The sketch needs to be from a
one-point perspective (similar to the sketch to
the below). Make sure to sketch in all the key
features of the environment.

Technique:

1. Ensure you work with your pencil angled (do not engrave the page)
2. Work lightly and build the colour up by using a range of techniques (see below)

(Add your careful drawing of the River

Torrens on the allocated page at the back
of this booklet)

13
 Activity 8: Observational Walk
On your journey along the River Torrens, please record your observations. Things to include,
Flora, Fauna, Rubbish etc.

Item Tally

14
Extra Notes, Pictures, and Diagrams

15
Activity 7: Field Sketch

16