Pollution… Project Proposal

Water Pollution Could you drink this water? Could animals safely live in, or near these kinds of places? Our water has become home to oil spills, trash, waste, and much more. A report, titled "Troubled Waters," found 348 of our state's factories and utilities exceeded the amount of pollution allowed under the Clean Water Act permits, more than 2,000 times over an 18-month period. It included everything from fecal contamination from sewage treatment plants, to oil and grease, to dangerous chemicals from industrial plants — threatening groundwater for drinking and surface water for recreation and marine life. But how do we know if OUR water is polluted? Does our water contain any potentially harmful chemicals? Is there any way for us to find out?...

YES! THERE IS! In order to test if the water from the creeks and streams behind Bardwell Dam is drinkable, able to be safely used by humans and animals, I propose that for this project, a group of three students work together to “test” the water. The group picks three locations behind Bardwell Dam, whether in the wetland area, the creek, or some other runoff. Each person acquires a $15-20 dollar testing kit, and uses the easy instructions included on either the Water Safe well water test, or the Water Safe drinking water test. There will be 7-10 different results depending on the kit for each determinant we are testing for, which will be placed onto a clear & cohesive graph. To test this, the person takes a sample of water, and puts the tester into the water, and checks the manual to determine whether the water has that particular thing in it. Areas will be determined to have good water or not by how many things they are clear of. The three graphs will be compared side by side to determine whether all or some or any of the locations has safe water. (Also, I will be testing the water that comes straight from my tap from my house in Rural Bardwell. The timeline for this should take possibly a week to two weeks to find a good area to test, get the kit, and to do the actual testing of the water. Pictures should be taken and included.

ALSO! We can test the water for silt, or sediment. An easy way to see how much of this is in the water is to take a couple of coffee filters, and attach them to coat hangers, and take them to the person’s area. The person will then proceed to place the coffee filter halfway in the water, for a predetermined amount of time, and when the coffee filter is removed, traces of silt or sediment may or may not be evident depending on the water source. This is to be repeated 3 times for quality purposes. This activity should not take long. Pictures should be taken, and included.

AND….. 2004 Concerns: Assessment Area: Lake Bardwell Reservoir Use or Concern: Entire Reservoir - Nutrient Enrichment Concern: nitrate+nitrite nitrogen. A study done by a S. Tidwell in 1974 determined that he found small traces of nitrate+nitrate nitrogen in the water. The study was unfinished and inconclusive. I propose that my group also contact and visit the Wildlife and Water Management behind Bardwell Dam and see if we can’t get an interview, or even a walk around with someone to have our questions answered. If this is arranged, each person will write a two page paper on what they learned, or about the interview. Questions like: Is there anything harmful to us or animals in the water? How often is the water tested? How is the water treated? will be vital to this investigation. This should take a week to two weeks to arrange, and time to gather our thoughts and write the paper. Pictures will be taken and included.

SO The graphs with the water “drinkability”, the “coffee filter” results, a sample of the water from each of the sites, and the 2 page paper will all be turned in as a presentation, with an oral and visual presentation, (including the pictures taken!) to the class and Ms. Megahan, by the end of the project period timeline. One week will be given to prepare your part in this individually, then it will be put together as one presentation! Any Questions? Comments? Concerns?