1. 4th Grade Water in San Diego projectswell@sdcoastkeeper.org;
Contact:
Sandra J. Lebrón
#125
Education Coordinator
San Diego Coastkeeper®

2. LS2.A Interdependent relationships in ecosystems (Lessons 1 & 2)
LS4.D- Biodiversity and Humans ( Lessons 1-3)
ESS3.C- Human Impacts on Earth Systems (Lessons 3-6)
ETS1 Engineering Design (Lessons 3 & 6)
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Click tab “TEACH SWELL”
Click on: PROJECTSWELLCURRICULUM
User name: sdunified
Password: teachswell
Next Generation Science Standards
Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCI)

3. 4th Grade Water in San Diego
Marine Pollution
What is Pollution? Give some examples.
What are some causes of pollution?
Can you mention different types of pollution, are they visible or invisible?
Litter, Flotsam

4. Pollution
Is the action or process of making the water, air, or land dirty, or not safe to use.
Laws:
The Clean Water Act controls pollution by regulating point sources (pipes, ditches) through the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit program. California also regulates water pollution through the issuance of waste discharge requirements by the Regional Water Quality Control Board (Regional Board).
More info:
Pollution Sources:
1. Point Source Pollution:
An identifiable confined source from which a pollutant is discharged or emitted. Factories (example: Smokestacks ). Pipe discharge from sewage treatment plants (or industries) are two common types of point sources (pics left, and middle). In San Diego sewage spills are a common treat, but since sewage treatment plants need to complied with the law (like Clean Water Act), this problem is a little easier to control than with Non Point Sources of Pollution.
2. Non-Point Source of Pollution: being a source of pollution (as runoff from agriculture) that is not a point source; also: being pollution or a pollutant that does not arise from a single identifiable source. Example: Marine debris (trash) on the beach.
Pollution Definitions: "Nonpoint." Merriam-Webster.com. Merriam-Webster, n.d. Web. 19 Mar <
More resources:
Visual dictionary:

5. Pollution You Can See and Pollution You Can’t See
Which picture represents visible and invisible pollution?

6. Lesson 4. Pollution You Can’t See
Shelter Island. Picture from Port of San Diego
How does pollution from land
end up in the ocean?

7. 4th Grade Water in San Diego
Investigation:
Does some pollution really matter in the great big ocean?
Lesson 4. Pollution You Can’t See
Infographic about chemical pollution.

8. Graphic G4-1.
Tell students that they will conduct an experiment to help them think about pollution in the great big ocean. Follow instructions in pages

9. 4th Grade Water in San Diego
Lesson 5 - Pollution in San Diego

10. Storm Drains Are For The Rain
The storm drains are only for the rain. San Diego has a separate sewer system; sewage is directed to a treatment plant via one pipe while untreated rainwater that enters the storm drains is discharged into water bodies via another.
The runoff is the number 1 threat to the water quality in San Diego County. All the trash that is left abandoned on the streets can enter the ocean through the storm drains.

11. Sewers and Storm Drains
What's the difference?
Illustration:Joseph Tart/EHP
Combined sewer systems collect rainwater and sewage in the same pipe. The mixed waste is transported to a plant where it is treated before being discharged. If the volume of wastewater in a combined sewer system exceeds capacity, as during a heavy rainstorm, the system is designed to discharge the excess—which can include RAW sewage and toxic chemicals—directly into nearby water bodies.
In a separate sewer system, sewage is directed to a treatment plant via one pipe while untreated rainwater is discharged into water bodies via another. Even in these systems, however, raw sewage may make its way into water ways, perhaps by migrating from compromised pipes. This is the sewer system that we have in San Diego.
San Diego Sewage History :

12. Lesson 5 - Pollution in San Diego

13. Lesson 5 - Pollution in San Diego

14. Sources of bacteria/ pathogens: Sewage and pet waste.
Sewer spills: Why this happen? Sewer spills can happen due to several reasons; like malfunction, trees roots or grease blockage.

15. Students Questions:
How can pet waste on your lawn or at the park contribute to water pollution?(It can be washed into storm drains. Pet waste can carry coliform bacteria which can cause sickness in humans. It's one of the reasons beaches are closed after it rains.)
How can you prevent this type of water pollution? (Clean up after your pet!)

16. Fertilizers and pesticides
Student Questions:
This picture shows someone treating the lawn with fertilizer and pesticides. How could this contribute to water pollution? (Excess fertilizer will be washed into storm drains and end up in the ocean or bay where the extra nutrients can cause an algal bloom. The algal bloom can cloud the water and limit the amount of light that gets to aquatic plants. The pesticide can be toxic to animals in the water as well as the birds that eat them.)
How can you prevent this type of water pollution? (Use fertilizer sparingly--you don't need much. Don't use fertilizer if it's expected to rain very soon. Try to find a less toxic method of getting rid of your garden pests. You can use mulch or landscaping mesh to cut down on weeds, or use "Integrated Pest Management," which is a system of using ecologically friendly methods to control pests and weeds. For example, you can often buy containers full of ladybugs at garden center; the ladybugs eat aphids which are plant pests.)
Background info:
Sources of excess nutrients: detergents, car soap, pesticides, and fertilizers.
Science word for excess nutrients: Eutrophication.
Fertilizers (nitrates, and ammonia) use to increase plant growth, and pesticides, can reach the watersheds and the ocean through runoff.
Excessive nitrogen or phosphate can cause algal blooms, which depletes the oxygen level in the water; which can cause massive death of fish.

17. Student Questions: Washing the Car
Can you explain how the water in this picture will end up in the bay or ocean? (It will flow down the storm drain.)
How could this activity cause water pollution? (Soap, dirt from the car, dust from brake pads, and oil or other chemicals from the car will flow into the storm drain with the water.)
How could you solve this water pollution problem? (One way is to wash your car on a lawn or other natural surface; the soil can act as a natural filter. Or take your car to a car wash where the water is filtered prior to being discharged.)
Car Leaking Oil
This car has a small oil leak. How could this cause water pollution? (The oil will be washed into creeks, rivers, and storm drains when it rains.)
How can you prevent this type of water pollution? (Encourage your family to keep the car in good running order.)

18. What is your solution to pollution?

19. Solutions to Pollution