Working With Water

Have you ever wondered where your water goes after you shower, use the dishwasher, or flush the toilet? 

Well, Heritage High School is in the business of helping answer these questions. Every school year, a new group of students joins its Environmental Water and Technology Academy in hopes of learning more about our planet and its resources. As part of this adventure in curriculum, students take field trips to conduct beach cleanups here in Brevard County, as well as explore the Indian River Lagoon’s vast resources and the Public Works sector in regard to cleaning our drinking and waste water. 

Recently, 45 students and four  teacher chaperones from the Environmental Management classes and Academy of Environmental Water and Technology took a field trip to Paradise Beach, in Melbourne. While on this field trip, the students were given a lesson on beach clean-up and our local ecosystems from the Marine Resources Council (MRC). 

Specifically, they learned how trash and plastics are damaging our ecosystems here on our Florida coastline. 

Currently, 14 former Academy students are working in the Public Works sector as Drinking Water trainees or operators and Wastewater Plant manager trainees. 

“The Environmental Water and Technology Academy is built to provide our students with a foundation of how water from everyday use and our environment interact. The students are very aware of how pollution and everyday use of the local lagoons and beaches can impact the greater ecosystems in Florida,” program director Dr. Colin Turey said. “We believe that the students are becoming more aware of the fact that freshwater is a non-renewable resource. Once it’s gone, it’s gone! Taking field trips to conduct beach cleanups and lagoon research is vital to continuing their education.”

For students and families interested in learning more about the Academy and its program offerings, contact Dr. Colin Turey, Director of the Water Academies and biology teacher at Heritage High School at Turey.Colin@Brevardschools.org or call 321-722-4178 ext. 29006.

— Brevard Public Schools

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