Malaysian Environment Week (MASM) 11 Aug 2007
MINGGU ALAM SEKITAR MALAYSIA (MASM) PENANG STATE LEVEL
(JOINT DOE, TOURISM MINISTRY & WATER WATCH PENANG WATER CATCHMENT AWARENESS & EDUCATION ACTIVITIES FOR SCHOOLS, 11 AUGUST 2007 IN PENANG BOTANIC GARDENS, PENANG) PROGRAMME: The objective of this programme is to increase awareness, education and commitment of school children towards rivers, water and water catchments. 10 teachers and 80 students (between Form 1 – Form 3) from SJK (T) Rajaji, SRJK Union, SRJK Convent Green Lane, and 3 students from Uplands School (special invitation via parents) were taken to the Waterfall Catchment and Sg Air Terjun inside the Penang Botanic Gardens. The students were accompanied by teachers from their respective schools. Teachers and students were given a briefing at the river site by Prof Chan Ngai Weng on the what is a water catchment, the importance of water catchments, the importance of conserving forests, monitoring and conserving rivers, and water supply. Prof Chan also briefed the group of ways to monitor river water quality, especially monitoring the physical and chemical parameters such as general environmental cleanliness, clarity of water, flow rate of currents, smell, presence or absence of garbage and dumping of materials, and dissolved oxygen levels, pH levels, temperature of water, total dissolved solids, suspended solids, etc. The group was then given "hands-on" exercise whereby various meters were used by them to measure the Sg Air Terjun's water quality. The instruments were provided by WWP. After this, the group was briefed by Puan Madziatul on the biological aspects of measuring water quality. The group was taught how to catch aquatic insects and invertebrates, identify them on a chart (provided by WWP) and then use the chart to estimate water quality. Apparently, certain insects and aquatic invertebrates live only in certain types of water quality. The group had a great time catching the aquatic insects and identifying them. Overall, the water quality was characterised as average to good. The students were then given a snack and drink. After the break, the group did a clean up (collect garbage etc) along the stream. To make it interesting, students were paired up (one recording and one collecting garbage) and a competition organised - whereby those pairs who collect the most number of garbage will win prizes. After this activity, the students were taken on a hike along the stream inside the catchment where they studied about trees, plants (guidance by WWP Staff) and the river (Guidance by WWP). Thereafter, the group was taken to visit the PBA's Waterfall Treatment Plant which is located inside the gardens. A staff of PBA was kind enough to brief the group on the various processes of water treatment. Students learnt about how raw water from rivers are abstracted, filtered and treated before being piped to consumers. After this, the group hiked up to the Sg Air Terjun waterfall and marvelled at its beauty. At the end of the day, students each received souvenirs at the end of the programme but most importantly they learnt a lot about the importance of catchments and rivers in water supply.