Operation Aqua

Can you manage SA’s water supply? This strategic, real-time management game puts you in control of our water and the population’s happiness!

This game is based around the many factors that contribute to the water management of a city over a three year span. Players must manage the various water resources including the river, lakes and reservoirs, ground water and the desalination plant to ensure that demand is being met (ensuring population happiness), while also keeping cost and wastage to a minimum. While the player balances these factors, they will also need to directly address consumer needs within the domestic, commercial and industrial sectors when they arise as well as other environmental/random events that occur. The player’s score is directly drawn from these elements together with the speed they are able to address the problems at hand. Players are also awarded additional in game trophies as they succeed in various challenges that arise.

Users will be able to choose their difficulty level before beginning the game which runs over an accelerated three year period, with each year taking eight minutes to complete. The game begins with the desalination plant under construction in the middle of a dry spell. This eventually progresses to drought where water restrictions are implemented. Finally the desalination plant is completed and the user gains an understanding of how much of an impact the plant has on the water resources of the city. Other environmental factors feature throughout the remainder of the game, influencing demand, availability, cost and water wastage.

PLAYER GOALS ARE
•Manage the water resources of the city to ensure population happiness, minimal wastage and lowest possible running costs.
•Address consumer needs as they arise
•Earn the most points
•Collect the most trophies

KEY LEARNING OUTCOMES ARE
•That water management involves balancing available resources as well as other factors like energy, economic and social/ cultural demands
•There are various difficulties and challenges that contribute to the water management of a city
•How to balance the water supply and meet the needs of various domestic, commercial and industrial customers.