Exploring Learning through Inquiry on the Topics of Water Scarcity, Groundwater Quality in Educational Settings, and the Effects of Flooding on Water Quality.

Freshwater resources are increasingly stressed by the combined effects of natural hazards and human activities, making water security a critical geoscience and sustainability challenge. This contribution presents a classroom-based pedagogical approach developed through integrated school projects on water scarcity, flood impacts, and water quality monitoring, linking the themes of natural hazards, human impact, and Earth’s resources. Implemented at the secondary school level in eastern India, the projects used the local environment as a living laboratory for geoscience learning.

Students investigated surface water and groundwater sources, particularly tube wells, to assess physical and chemical water quality parameters. Special emphasis was given to the effects of seasonal flooding, including saltwater intrusion into tube wells after flood events, which compromises potable water availability. The projects also addressed arsenic contamination in groundwater, a major regional environmental health issue, helping students understand its geological origin, mobilization processes, and long-term human impact. Learners analysed how floods, overextraction of groundwater, land-use change, and poor drainage systems intensify water quality degradation.

Low-cost, accessible methods such as simple water testing, rainwater harvesting assessment, water footprint analysis, and basic purification techniques were incorporated to ensure feasibility in resource-limited school settings. The outcomes highlight how inquiry-based, place-based learning can enhance students’ understanding of Earth system processes, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable water management.

The approach provides teachers with a transferable model to integrate natural hazard awareness, geoscience concepts, and sustainability education into regular classroom practice, aligning strongly with the GIFT–EGU goals of active learning, societal relevance, and teacher-led innovation in Earth science education.

Keywords:
Natural hazards; Flood impacts; Saltwater intrusion; Arsenic contamination; Human impact on water resources; Earth’s freshwater resources; Water quality monitoring; Rainwater harvesting; School-based geoscience education; Sustainability and resilience.Bottom of Form