Student Exploration Water Pollution

Name: ______________________________________ Date: ________________________ Student Exploration: Water Pollution Vocabulary: bacterial pollution, nutrient pollution, sediment pollution, toxic pollution, water pollution Prior Knowledge Questions (Do these BEFORE using the Gizmo.) 1. Water pollution is the addition of harmful substances to water. Some of these substances are found at home. What household chemicals might be harmful if not disposed of properly? _____________________bleach, ammonia, antifreeze, paint, and formaldehyde.____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 2. What are some other causes of water pollution? __Global warming.Deforestation.industry________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Gizmo Warm-up The Water Pollution Gizmo will teach you about some of the main kinds of water pollution. On the TYPE tab, under Types of pollution, check that Toxic is selected. Read the paragraphs on the right and bottom of the Gizmo. 1. What is toxic pollution? _______Toxic pollution is contaminated water, soil, and air that is harmful or poisonous.______________________ _________________________________________________ _________________________________________________ 2. What are some examples of toxic pollutants listed in the Gizmo? _____battery acid and paint________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 2019 3. Can you think of other examples of toxic substances, not listed in the Gizmo? Pesticides, dumps from certain factories, etc______________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ 2019 Activity A: Types of water pollution Get the Gizmo ready:  Check that the TYPE tab and Toxic pollution are selected. Question: What are the main types of water pollution? 1. Read and learn: Besides toxic pollution, the other types of pollution are sediment pollution, nutrient pollution, and bacterial pollution. You have already described toxic pollution on the previous page. Read about the other types, and describe each in your own words. Sediment pollution Description: ________Pollution by sand, soil, and other minerals that are washed intostreams and rivers after rainfall__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Causes: Caused by careless farming, mining, and building activitie__________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Consequences: Destruction of fish and wildlife habitat, clouds water (blocking sunlight needed by aquatic plants), and piles up in reservoirs, rivers, and harbors __________________________________________________________ Nutrient pollution Description: ________contamination of water by excessive nutrients, usually nitrogen and phosphorus.__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Causes: _________Fertilizer, manure, and human waste__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Consequences: Excessive algae reduce sunlight passing through water__________________________________________________________ Bacterial pollution Description: ________Contamination of water by bacteria__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Causes: _______Manure, human waste, and spoiled food___________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Consequences: Human, animal, and plant health problems__________________________________________________________ Get the Gizmo ready: Activity B:  Select the EXAMPLE tab.  Check that example 1/12 is selected. (If not, use the arrow buttons to get to example 1/12.) Real-world examples Question: What are the real-world causes of water pollution? 1. Practice: For each Real-world example presented in the Gizmo, guess which type or types of pollution will result by checking the boxes. When you are ready, click Check answer to see if you were right. Read the explanation, and then use your own words to fill in the table. Example Pollution type(s) Explanation 1 nutrient bacterial Chicken manure contains high levels of bacteria and nitrogen 2 toxic nutrient Car gases and leaking fluids cause toxic pollution.Nitrogen oxide in exhaust causes nutrient problem 3 toxic 4 Sediment 5 Toxic Oil and antifreeze are toxic chemicals that will wash into local waterways after being dumped in the alleyway. 6 Sediment Removal of trees and shrubs will expose soil that can be washed into the lake 7 Toxic 8 Nutrient Bacterial 9 Sediment Paper products are made from trees. Logging exposes soil and leads to sediment pollution. 10 Toxic Sediment Oil and other fluids will wash off the parking lot into the stream. Construction will cause soil erosion 11 Nutrient Plants can’t use all of the fertilizer. Excess fertilizer will be washed into the environment, causing nutrient pollu 琀椀 on 12 Pesticides can enter the water supply through runoff or seepage through the soil after trees are removed, exposed soil will erode into streams and rivers Paint and paint thinner are toxic substances that will leach into groundwater at the land The sewage treatment plant will not be able to treat all the water, so some untreated water will be released into the environment Nutrient Bacteria (Activity B continued on next page) Human waste is leaking from the septic tank. This is a source of nutrients and bacteria Activity B (continued from previous page) 2. Practice: Classify each of the following examples as toxic, sediment, nutrient, and/or bacterial pollution. Explain your classifications. A. Logging removes trees from a hill, leaving a barren landscape. Classification: ____Sediment pollution_____________________________________________Explanation: ____________Without tree roots to hold it in place, soil will be washed into streams and rivers____________________________________________________ _____________________ ___________________________________________________________________ B. A man washes clothes in a stream using a detergent that contains phosphorus. Classification: ________________________________________________________ Explanation: _________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ C. At an old gas station, gasoline leaks from an underground storage tank. Classification: ________________________________________________________ Explanation: _________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ D. At a research lab, a scientist carelessly pours cultures of living microbes down the drain. Classification: ________________________________________________________ Explanation: _________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________ 3. Think and discuss: Many sources of water pollution are found within the home. What actions can you take to reduce water pollution? _________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ _ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________