Upper Nepean Scheme

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/upper-nepean-scheme

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How big is Upper Nepean Scheme?Approximately 970 square kilometers of the Upper Nepean River system
2. How long is Upper Nepean Scheme?Extensive, with individual tunnels measuring several kilometers in length
3. What is the key dams within the scheme?Cataract, Cordeaux, Avon, and Nepean Dams
4. What is the total storage capacity?Over 1.5 million megaliters (combined capacity of the four main dams)
5. Why was the Upper Nepean Scheme built?Sydney was growing quickly and needed more water for people and factories. The scheme was made to prevent water shortages and keep the city healthy.
6. How does the Upper Nepean Scheme move water without pumps?The system uses gravity. Water flows from high dams through tunnels and canals downhill to the city.

Catchment Area: The area of land where all surface water drains into a common river or water body.
Potable Water: Water that is safe to drink and suitable for human consumption.
Civil Engineering: The design, construction, and maintenance of public works such as infrastructure and utilities.