Water Conservation and STEM

The popularity of STEM learning has the potential to aid water conservation efforts by engaging young people to make a difference in our current and future water usage. Water is a finite resource, and taking steps to conserve it, both through everyday actions and government intervention, can ease the current pressure facing our freshwater resources.

Check out these resources to enhance K–12 STEM-focused water conservation learning, discover how technology is being used to impact water conservation today, and increase kids’ and teens’ impacts on water conservation.

STEM Water Conservation Projects

Project Learning Tree | STEM: Every Drop Counts: This activity teaches kids how to save water and be more mindful about water conservation.

STEM: “Wet” Students’ Appetite With Water Activities: These water activities teach kids about where water comes from and how to keep it clean.

Water Conservation Activities for Kids: These fun activities help kids learn how to calculate their water footprint, conserve water, and much more.

Conserve or Clean-up Water Science Projects: These hands-on projects are perfect for kids who are interested in environmental conservation.

Water Conservation Activities for Kids: This resource includes activities and games for aspiring environmental stewards of all ages.

Water Use It Wisely: This page provides examples of ways to teach kids to conserve water.

Texas Water Development Board: This website has games, lesson plans, and other activities to learn about key water conservation topics.

Concord Consortium Water Science Activities: These water science activities are ideal for students interested in careers in environmental conservation.

STEM Water Teaching Tools

STEM Learning | Water Topics: This comprehensive resource pack provides eight separate activities surrounding water conservation.
Project WET | Water Education Today: This resource includes water conservation resources and lessons K–12 teachers may find helpful.
Water Conservation for Educators: This page includes water conservation resources and lesson plans for educators of all grade levels.
Water Conservation and Water Heating Lesson Plan: This lesson plan addresses water conservation, particularly in regards to heating and cooling, for students grades K-8.
City of Tempe Teachers and Kids Water Projects: These water-focused educational programs are designed to help future generations learn about their water resources, develop water consciousness, and learn how to use water wisely.
Water Conservation and STEM Teaching Guide: Turning Students into Water Stewards: This webinar discusses teaching about water conservation education for future environmental stewards.
Designing Ways to Get and Clean Water: This kid-friendly activity encourages students to design clean water sources.
The Water Project: Teaching Resources About Water: These Water Crisis Lesson Plans are ideal for kids in grades K–12.
USGS Teacher’s Resources for Water Education: USGS has countless resources for teachers interested in lessons about water resources.

Kids and Teens STEM — Making a Difference With Water

9 Mind-Blowing STEM Projects by Teen Environmentalists: These STEM projects designed by teens address pressing environmental issues.

Distinguished Conservation Award Projects: These awards are for young adults who have completed a Distinguished Conservation Service Project.

World Wildlife Foundation International President’s Youth Award: The WWF recently launched a new award for young people who are already working on natural conservation efforts.

AWWA Scholarships: The American Water Works Association (AWWA) offers discounted memberships and scholarships to students interested in water resources.

American Water Resources Association | Herbert Scholarship: The AWRA offers scholarships of $2,000 to undergraduate students interested in water resources.

WRCO Student Scholarships: The WateReuse Colorado (WRCO) Scholarship is valued at $1,500 and is for students interested in studying water-related issues.

Rotary Water Management Scholarships: The Rotary Foundation offers more than $5 million in water management scholarships.

Spellman Clean Tech Global Sustainability Competition: The Clean Tech Competition is a research and design challenge for STEM-focused youth.

Envirothon: The Envirothon is North America’s largest high school environmental education competition.

Stockholm Junior Water Prize: The Stockholm Junior Water Prize is for high school students who conduct water science research projects.

Scholarly Articles

Four billion people facing severe water scarcity: Water scarcity is a global problem, but for some areas of the world, it’s even more of a crisis.
The world’s road to water scarcity: shortage and stress in the 20th century and pathways towards sustainability: Water scarcity has long been an issue, but the issue is evolving in the modern age. Here’s how.
Water scarcity assessments in the past, present and future: This study showcases indicators that can pinpoint different characteristics of water scarcity.
Global water scarcity including surface water quality and expansions of clean water technologies: Recent expansions in clean water technologies may help to address scarce supplies of water.
Water Scarcity, Security and Sustainability: Sustainability, water scarcity, and safety are all closely linked. This paper explores those connections.
Reducing Water Scarcity by Reducing Food Loss and Waste: One way to combat water scarcity is to address food waste, which this study explores.
Water Scarcity and the Role of Storage in Development: Storage is a big concern when it comes to the water scarcity issue, and addressing it can assist in conservation efforts.

Water Conservation Tips

WaterSense for Kids: If your kids are curious about why they need to save water, this page will help explain the topic in a way they can understand.

Water Conservation Tips for Kids: You can help your kids conserve water by showing them these kid-friendly tips.

National Geographic Kids Water Conservation Primary Resource: National Geographic offers 25 ways kids can be “water heroes.”

Unicef’s Top Tips for Water Conservation: This is a great resource to help kids learn to conserve water.

Kids Conservation Tips from LA County Waterworks: This page has water conservation tips geared toward kids.

Stanford’s Water Conservation Tips: Small steps add up when it comes to water conservation — check out these tips.

Water Conservation at Home: Rhode Island has lots of water resources highlighting the importance of conserving water.

California’s Water Conservation Tips: The California Department of Water Resources shares water conservation tips that can help residents deal with the uncertainties of climate change.

US EPA | Start Saving: The EPA outlines tools and information you can use to save water both indoors and outdoors.

Water Conservation Practices: This paper outlines water conservation practices that can be implemented by homeowners and builders.

Water Resources

United States Geological Services (USGS) Water Resources: Learn about what the USGS is doing to protect national and local water resources.
Organisation for Economic Co-operation (OECD) Water Resources Management: This organization offers information on financing water resources management, solutions for management, and more.
International Water Resources Management (IWRA) Water Resources: This interdisciplinary network of experts on water resources offers research and solutions for water resource management.
WMO Hydrology and Water Resources: The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) offers hydrological services and technologies to help implement water management solutions.
2030 WRG: Collective Action on Water Security for People, Environment and Economy: The Water Resources Group (WRG) is an organization that helps to develop creative solutions for water conservation.
Water Resources and Ecosystem Health Track: This is a helpful training that teaches how water moves through the landscape and how to preserve water sustainability.
RTI Center for Water Resources: The RTI Center for Water Resources translates complex data into helpful information about water conservation.
National Park Service Water Resources Division: The National Park Service conserves and protects water resources in the U.S. National Parks.
ESRI GIS for Water Resources: ESRI offers vital information about water and watershed management in the U.S.
NASA Enhancing Water Management: NASA’s Water Resources program aims to discover, develop, and showcase practical uses for water conservation solutions.

Water and Technology

Penn State University | Water Conservation and Protection Technologies: This study looks at water conservation technologies that can be used in agricultural and industrial settings.

EPA Water-Saving Technologies: The EPA breaks down the most water-efficient technologies you can incorporate into your home irrigation systems.

FEMA Water-Efficient Technology Opportunities: In this paper, FEMA identifies eight crucial water-saving technologies.

3 Technologies That Could Transform Water Management: This paper looks at three new technologies that have made a big difference in drought-stricken California.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Irrigation Technology and Water Conservation: This study explores more specific and applicable solutions that can be used to combat water shortages.

Soil and Water Conservation Technologies: A Buffer Against Production Risk in the Face of Climate Change?: The International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) discusses how soil and water conservation technologies may help keep crop production stabilized in the face of climate change.

The Adoption and Impact of Soil and Water Conservation Technology: An Endogenous Switching Regression Application: JSTOR (Journal Storage), an extensive library in New York, provides this study looking at the factors that influence farmers’ decisions to use new soil and water conservation technologies in Africa.

Arizona Water Conservation Technologies: This page has general tips for conserving water in arid climates such as Arizona.

FAO Promotion of Low-Cost and Water Saving Technologies for Small-Scale Irrigation: The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), an agency of the United Nations, offers this study which explores new technologies to help conserve water, from small-scale to large-scale irrigation.

AUDA-NEPAD | Addressing Water Scarcity Using Digital and Smart Technologies: The Case of Egypt: The African Union Development Agency-NEPAD (AUDA-NEPAD) discusses a variety of technologies that can be used to address global water scarcity — this case study in Egypt examines them.

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