Water quality testing

The water quality testing carried out by Streamwatch provided the essential information about the source of water quality problems in the catchment.
 

Pollution in Manly Lagoon

The Manly Lagoon catchment, which was the focus for kcc, is relatively compact-only five kilometers from the top of the catchment to the sea. The kcc event was the third time a whole catchment study had been conducted involving local schools as part of the Streamwatch project. The previous studies provided good information about the possible sources of pollution in the catchment.

Sources of pollution
The Streamwatch data collected over the past three years indicated that the waterways in the catchment are among the most polluted in the Sydney region. The data showed:

• high faecal coliform readings, especially in Burnt Bridge Creek (during a whole catchment study day in Water Week 1993 students found scores of dead eels in Burnt Bridge Creek, and recorded faecal coliform levels above million colonies per 100 ml)
• High nutrient levels (nitrates and phosphates)
• oily slicks on the water and other sings of industrial dumping
• litter washing into the lagoon through stormwater channels.

• re-testing of sites from previous catchment study days
• targeting sites above and below sewage overflow points, and above and below the industrial area
• re-testing sites where severe pollution, had been detected on previous occasions
• ease of accessibility by student groups on foot.

Water testing teams
Water testing teams included student representatives from six high schools, with at least one experienced adult as team leader. Each team was assigned two sites to test (18 sites total). Team leaders were drawn from Streamwatch teachers and coordinators, and Oz GREEN.

Transport
Transport to test sites was provided by team leaders and helpful parents. The day began with a 7 am rendezvous so those teams would not be out in the midday sun, and so that all teams could be back at Blackmores by 10.45am to participate in the Waste Expo displays.

Supply of equipment
Each team had a Streamwatch water testing kit, catchment map and site location directions. All team leaders had been briefed on the location of their testing sites. Additional equipment included buckets, extra gloves, gum boots, waste bottles, esky and ice packs ground sheets and result sheets.

Attention to safety
Each team included experienced water testers, who were very familiar with testing procedures and safety precautions. Safety precautions were reinforced by emphasising the importance of:

• wearing gloves and washing hands after testing
• not eating or drinking during testing
• wearing hats, sun screen and long sleeves.

The Waste Expo displays provided a focal point for businesses to gain information about relevant environmental issues. The displays for kcc Balgowlah were organised by the Manly Environment Centre and included 25 staffed exhibits from government agencies, professional associations, industry and environment groups.

The Exhibitors included:

Streamwatch (with students demonstrating water testing methods), Environment Protection Authority, NSW Public Works, Waste Service of NSW, Sydney Water Trade Waste. Department of Land and Water Conservation, Department of Business and Regional Development, Master Plumbers Association, Australian Water and Wastewater

Association, Manly Hydraulics Laboratory, Natural Gas, Cooperative Research Centre for Water, Stormwater Industry Association, Sydney Electricity, SEPA Waste Management, Browns Creek Gold, Manly Council, Warringah Council, Manly Environment Centre, Oz GREEN, Friends of the Ganges (Australia) Inc and Blackmores Ltd.

When contacting potential exhibitors, it was important to assure them that the expo would be a significant size and worth participating in because of the exposure they would receive. Generating goodwill and enthusiasm among some major exhibitors also helped encourage others to participate in the display. Mentioning the names of some of these exhibitors helped to persuade less enthusiastic exhibitors to lend their support.

The expo brought together displays of high quality material and programs to get the waste minimisation message across in a non-threatening manner. Participants were able to browse through the displays and pick up supporting literature from enthusiastic personnel, who enjoyed the opportunity to chat informally with potential clients.

When organising displays it is important to include a wide range of exhibitions. Waste management includes waste minimisation, water Pollution energy, environmental management and total catchment management.

Waste guide

A free 100 page kids, companies & creeks Waste Guide was produced by the Manly Environment Centre to hand out to participants at the kcc event. The guide was designed to provide educational material to encourage industry to seek further assistance in planning its waste management. It was compiled with the assistance of exhibitors, who saw the opportunity to promote the services, information and resources available to industry on cleaner production.

The Waste Guide included information about the kcc event and organisers, and environmental management and practical advice management advice from participating agencies.

Speeches, song and theatre

The formal part of the day involved giving a voice to the environmental concerns and challenges of kcc. This part of the day reflected the creativity of the groups involved.
 

The theory is there, now let's put it into practice If we continue to work together, our creeks may be saved and once again become a safe place for humans, plants and animals.   We hope that people all over Australia will take a leaf out of our book and start looking after our creeks. Children are our future, but without creeks, it won't be much of a one. Let's keep working together, both for our creeks and our future, and maybe, one day we will see frogs back in our creek again. Michelle Wakefield, Mackellar Girls High School, August 1994

The students were powerful ambassadors for the environment. They made well planned and rehearsed speeches, sang songs and perform theatre. One of the local primary schools was asked to become the voice for the water and creatures of the creek. Students and teachers at St Mary's Primary School produced a creative and funny play where the creatures of the creeks banded together against continuing pollution of their home and demanded their right to clean water. St. Cecilia's Primary School entertained the crowd with environmental songs.
 

Marcus Blackmore, Managing Director   of Backmores Ltd, addresses the kcc   Balgowlah event

It is rather ironic that with the kcc initiative we in business are responding to a challenge put to us by school children from our own community, perhaps as business people we should have been more pro-active about our environmental responsibility before it got to this stage. Be that as it may, we must congratulate "the kids" for having the temerity and the enthusiasm to bring these environmental issues to our attention.  Marcus Blackmore, Blackmore Ltd. August 1994

Business representative spoke about the value of the exercise, the programs pleased to be involved with Director of Blackmores Ltd, of the world's problems resting in the hands young people for their work and suggested that industry has to play a more pro-active role in improving environmental quality.

As Sue Lennox, from Oz GREEN, said.

The impact of young people in cooperation with industry was the strength of the day. Students from Mackellar Girls High School spoke at the event as representatives of young people everywhere. Primary school students were asked to speak for the creeks and the creatures that inhabit them. We expected a song or two and a speech, but we got a beautiful piece of theatre. Students from St. Mary's Primary School dressed up as frogs, fish and other creatures. They spoke with commitment and passion about what it was like to live in a creek that humans treated as a dump for their waste. They protested and decided to band together to change things. This delightful performance was a salute to the talent of the students a dedication of the teachers working with them.