Water Management - Water Conservation Information

Water Conservation/Public Education Programs

The City of Durham Department of Water Management strongly promotes water conservation and has an active water conservation and public education program. The following resources are available for schools, civic groups, and interested citizens in our service area.

  • Video Tapes

    Our lending library contains over 30 different videos that address issues from conservation to water quality to xeriscaping and more. They range from 8 minutes to 48 minutes in length and are available for all grade levels, including adults. Some include accompanying reference materials and workbooks. A complete list of video titles and descriptions is available online here or by contacting Conservation Program staff at (919) 560-4381.

  • Online Activities

    The Story of Drinking Water - an interactive lesson about drinking water.

    Go With the Flow - an interactive lesson about wastewater treatment.

    *"Story of Drinking Water" and "Go With the Flow" sites can be made available on alternative media suited to the needs of disabled individuals upon request. To make a request, please email Conservation Staff.

  • Water Education Curriculum

    Developed by EPA and distributed by the Water Environment Federation, this curriculum contains hands-on activities, fact sheets, and a glossary of terms covering water, sources of water, groundwater, wastewater treatment, and coastal water issues. Water Sourcebook is available for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.

  • Posters

    We can provide several posters that highlight the water cycle, water treatment, wise water use, water careers, etc.

  • Activity Books

    Our activity books target grades K-3, and cover water conservation and water treatment.

  • Booklets

    For older children (middle school) through adults, we can provide short booklets that discuss drinking water, water conservation, water treatment, wastewater treatment, xeriscaping and resourceful landscaping, etc. For a complete list of booklet titles contact Conservation Program staff at (919) 560-4381.

  • Pamphlets

    We have numerous pamphlets available for distribution that address water quality, water conservation, wastewater treatment, xeriscaping, household hazardous waste, and more. A complete list of pamphlets is available from Conservation Program staff at (919) 560-4381.

  • Presentations

    Conservation Program staff can tailor a presentation to appropriate age groups, ranging from basic talks to more elaborate demonstrations. Elementary children may enjoy a few "Water Magic" tricks performed by members of our conservation staff. Older children will benefit from using a computer model to determine money, energy and water savings by simulating a retrofit of home plumbing fixtures. Other topics include groundwater (using a "slice of the Earth," we can demonstrate how water moves underground and how both surface and groundwater can become polluted); water treatment (using a mock-up of a water treatment plant, we can demonstrate how "raw" water is treated before we can drink it); water quality and wastewater treatment (presentations include how wastewater is treated, the analyses conducted on water and wastewater samples, the water cycle and watershed issues).

  • Book Covers

    Book covers with a water conservation/education theme (4 different covers) are also available upon request.

Please call Conservation Program staff in the Department of Water Management at (919) 560-4381 to borrow videos, schedule presentations or request additional information.