University of Waikato
Water Issues
Water may be everywhere but it is not always drinkable. Pupils research water issues, first in a local setting and then with Papua New Guinea and Australia to get a larger world perspective. Teams use the Internet and other resources to...
NOAA
Energy from the Oceans
Can Earth's oceans produce a steady supply of clean energy? Scholars explore the uses of tidal and thermal energy in the 11th installment of a 13-part series about ocean-based alternative energy sources. Learners examine the current...
NASA
The Case of the Wacky Water Cycle
Join the tree house detectives in learning about the processes of the water cycle, water conservation, water treatment, and water as a limited resource.
San Francisco Public Utilities Commission
Desalination: Turning Salt Water into Fresh Water
How does San Francisco supply its citizens with enough water, even during a drought? Learn about reservoirs and why desalination could be a good solution with a reading passage about water conservation. After kids finish the...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: Solar Powered Water Desalination
Here is a cool project about making fresh water from salt water using solar power, also known as water desalination. The apparatus is made from readily available materials, and the power source is free. As an inventive thinker, you will...
Science Buddies
Science Buddies: From Brine to Beverage: Solar Powered Salt Removal
In this science fair project you'll discover how to turn the ocean into a source of freshwater by using the power of the Sun, and the water cycle. You will ultimately find just how salinity affects this process.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Water Desalination Plant
Students use a thermal process approach to design, build and test a small-scale desalination plant that is capable of significantly removing the salt content from a saltwater solution. Students use a saltwater circuit to test the...
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Ocean Water Desalination
Students learn about the techniques engineers have developed for changing ocean water into drinking water, including thermal and membrane desalination. They begin by reviewing the components of the natural water cycle. They see how...
Other
Virtual Field Trip: Water/aquifers
This virtual field trip for middle school students looks at aquifers and their place in the hydrologic cycle. Students learn why and how it is important to protect the source of your drinking water and some unique details about the...
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Action Bioscience: International Water Facility
Find out what can be done to clean up the world's water sources to provide safe drinking water because at least 35% of the world does not have it available to them and only 3% of the world's water is fresh.
American Institute of Biological Sciences
Action Bioscience: Seawater Desalination: Panacea or Hype?
An article and resources for research and teaching that explains how technologies are being used to desalinate ocean waters to be used for various municipal, industrial, and domestic purposes including a means to provide fresh water to...
Other
Energy of Seawater Desalination
This site gives information about energy needed for desalination. It gives formulas on how to determine these figures.
Other
California Resources Agency: Desalination
This site is from the Office of the Secretary of California. It gives background about desalination along with basic methods on how it is accomplished.
Scientific American
Scientific American: Israel Proves the Desalination Era Is Here
Once one of the driest countries on Earth now makes more freshwater than it needs. How can other countries learn what this nation has mastered in an effort to turn droughts around?
Other
Jcpa: A Commodity in Scarcity: Politics of Water in the Middle East
This essay from 1994 discusses the issue of water scarcity in the Middle East. It describes the problem and proposes solutions.
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation: News in Science: Desalination: Taking the Plunge
From ABC News in Science, Judy Skatssoon's article deals with information related to a large Desalination plant in Australia. The article also includes information on the Desalination process.
World Health Organization
World Health Organization: Desalination Guidelines Development for Drinking Water
World Health Organizational site provides a brief introduction into the desalination guidelines development for drinking water. Contains links to water sanitation and health as well as drinking water.
Other
Encyclopedia of Desalination and Water Resources
Informational site describes the process of water desalination and distillation. Also provides a list of free articles to peruse for further study.
Curated OER
Energy of Seawater Desalination
This site gives information about energy needed for desalination. It gives formulas on how to determine these figures.