In this program students will analyse environmental water samples to determine the presence of contaminants in the Ballarat water supply system.

With an increase in agricultural activity and the development of unauthorised dams, students will investigate contamination and evaluate the need for mitigation strategies. Students will use analytical tools including a UV spectrometer and an atomic absorption spectrometer (AAS) to assess levels of contamination.

After exploring the two tools, students will complete a self-directed experiment to determine levels of new contaminants and draft an AoS3 poster.

In this program students will:

• Determine levels of contamination.
• Prepare standard solutions, create calibration curves (digitally) and analyse data.
• Use laboratory skills such as micro pipetting and collecting and reading absorbance from analytical tools.