HSC Earth and Environmental Science
Have you been on one of our Earth and Environmental Science Depth Study excursions?
Here are some resources that might help you explore some of the concepts in more detail or revise what you learned.
You can learn about our high school excursions and make excursion requests online.
Managing our water
- Water sources – find out about the main sources of water in Sydney.
- Water use and conservation – find out how we use water.
- Urban water management – find out how we modify and manage the natural water cycle.
- History of Sydney’s water – learn about the past use of this precious resource.
- How wastewater is treated and recycled video - see how St Marys Advanced Water Recycling Plant plays an important role in water management.
Environment protection
- Protecting the environment – learn how we are contributing to healthy waterways.
- EPA pollution monitoring data reports – learn about why we test water quality at our plants and publish our test.
Wastewater treatment
- Wastewater treatment - find out what wastewater is and how it's treated.
- Penrith Water Recycling Plant - find out more about the wastewater treatment process used at Penrith.
- Wastewater treatment plant virtual tour - take a virtual tour of Penrith.
- St Marys Advanced Water Recycling Plant - learn about technologies used to make highly treated recycled water.
- Water recycling - learn about how we use recycled water.
Stormwater management
- Stormwater - find out what stormwater is and how it can be re-used.
- Stormwater catchment map - Are you in one of our stormwater catchments?
Sustainable practices
- Innovation & renewable energy – find out how we are using new technologies that provide improve services and have better environmental outcomes.
- Solids recycling - learn about how we re-use the by-products of wastewater treatment.
Liveability and resilience
- Liveable cities – discover how we can use water not just to survive but thrive.
- Drought response – see how we manage our water supplies during drought.
- Energy management & climate change – learn improve our energy efficiency.
- Heritage conservation – learn how we protect our connections from our past for the future.
Want to learn more, using fieldwork investigations and hands-on activities?
Below are fact sheets and activities you can use at home or at school.
Wastewater and re-use
- What’s in wastewater– find out about what’s in the wastewater at Penrith Water Recycling Plant.
- Wastewater audit – work out what is in your wastewater and see how you can reduce your impact on the environment.
- Water audit – find out how water efficient your school is.
- Make a simple water filter - try this experiment to make the most effective water filter.
Stormwater and re-use
- Self-guide excursions - investigate the value of a stormwater channel or waterway in an urban environment.
- Stormwater audit - find out where the water goes when it rains.
Depth Study program
Looking for inspiration for a whole class depth study? Take a look at our Stage 6 HSC Earth and Environmental Science Wastewater Depth Study program and Stage 6 HSC Earth and Environmental Science Wastewater Depth Study Field report/presentation Sample assessment task.
It gives you ideas for 4 hours of in-class activities that will support our Stage 6 Earth and Environmental Science Depth Study excursion.