Introduction:
Water is one of the most important resources we have. People can survive without food for several weeks, but without water we would die in just a few days.
On a slightly less dramatic note, millions of gallons of water are needed every day worldwide for washing, irrigating crops, cooling, and industrial processes. Water is also required for many forms of recreation, such as swimming, boating and fishing.
Despite our dependence on water, we use it as a dumping ground for all sorts of waste, and do very little to protect the water supplies we have.
The Task:
You are an employee of the Environmental Protection Agency. Your boss, Mr. Walkerton, has just asked you to create a pamphlet or brochure that is to be included with the Sunday newspaper about water pollution.
Mr. Walkerton has asked you to create the pamphlet ( brochure ) in response to a number of incidents in which the water has become polluted in different areas around this province. He believes that the pamphlet will help to increase public awareness about water pollution and it will hopefully help to prevent its spread.
In your pamphlet or brochure, Mr. Walkerton has asked you to include the following information:
What is water pollution?
What are some of the sources of water pollution?
What are some of the consequences of water pollution?
What can be done to improve the quality of water after it has become polluted?
What are some actions that can be taken to help prevent water from becoming polluted?
What are nitrates and how do they get into our water supply?
What effect do high nitrate levels have on people?
What is considered to be the safe level for nitrates in drinking water?
What should a person do if there are high nitrate levels in their water supply?
What can be done to help prevent nitrates from entering our water supply?
The Process:
You will work together in groups of two. Each person on your team will have a specific job to perform. One person is to be the General Water Quality Expert. This person is to research, gather general information on water quality and water pollution in its various forms. The other person on the team is to be a Water Quality Nitrate Expert and Public Awareness Expert. That person is to focus on nitrates in our water supply and how to best inform the public about the threat of water pollution and poor water quality. Keep in mind that each person on the team must co-ordinate his/her activities with the other person and they will need to work together in creating the pamphlet / brochure.
Resources:
The following is a list of Internet resources that can be used to complete this project
This site has quite a bit of information about ocean pollution, landfills and the e-coli tragedy.
This site is from the EPA and contains a wealth of information on water quality standards in drinking water and the effects of different forms of water pollution and some of their sources.
This site provides information about the impact of the oil spill, the status of recovery of injured resources and services and information about ongoing restoration and research activities.
This site contains a short slide show on pollution.
Information about nitrate pollution can be found at this site.
From the USGS, the National Water-Quality Assessment Program provides information on water quality, including nitrate levels, in our water supply.
Information about urban water pollution and how to help prevent it can be found at this site.
This is a reply from ask an earth scientist concerning the topic of sources of water pollution.
This is a reply from ask an earth scientist concerning the topic of water pollution in the world's oceans .
This site will provide information on river or estuary pollution. A river or estuary is polluted when a substance that degrades the water quality enters the waterway and alters its natural functions.
This site provides general information on the water cycle and how different types of pollution can impact it.
Water Science for Schools from the USGS provides a lot of general information on water, its uses, etc...
Evaluation:
Your project will be evaluated based on the following criteria:
Is your pamphlet / brochure clear and concise?
Did you accurately include all the information requested?
Are drawings and photographs clear and used appropriately for the subject?
