1. Water Pollution and Stewardship

2. What is Water Pollution?
Water Pollution - Addition of any substance that has a negative effect on the water or living things that depend on the water.

3. Sources of the Pollution
Point Source - the specific source of the pollution can be identified.
Example: A pipe spilling out pollution into a river.
Nonpoint Source - widely spread source of pollution that does not have a specific point of origin.
Example: Trash and litter in Runoff from cities.

4. Examples of Pollution
Runoff moves across the land, picking up pollution, and drains into nearby bodies of water.
Examples:
Farm Runoff (Waste, Pesticides, & Fertilizers)
Urban Runoff (Trash and Oil/Gas)

5. Examples of Pollution Farm Runoff:
Fertilizers – Used to increase plant growth on farms; adds nitrates and phosphates to nearby bodies of water.
Pesticides – toxic chemicals used on crops to kill the insects that eat the crops.

6. The Dangers of Pesticides…
Bio-magnification – As pesticides travel up the
food chain, they increase in concentration.

7. DDT in America https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MMSEnIVFBQ0
DDT was a commonly used pesticide in the 1940’s and 1950’s. It wasn’t until 20 years later that they discovered it caused cancer and other health issues.

8. Examples of Pollution Coliform Bacteria (E.Coli) from: Human Waste
Sewers and Septic Tanks
Animal/Pet Waste

9. Examples of Pollution Industrial Waste Toxic Chemicals
Smoke and Exhaust
Leads to Acid Rain!
Hot Water from Power
Plants

10. Pollution Solutions
How can we reduce or filter out the nitrates from farm runoff?

11. Vegetative Buffers!
If vegetative buffers, like wetlands, are surrounding the waterways, they will catch and filter these nitrates BEFORE they enter the lakes and rivers!

12. What is a Vegetative Buffer?
Vegetative Buffer – Area of natural vegetation that surround bodies of water and protect the water quality.

13. Why are wetlands important?
Wetlands are very important because:
Wetlands act like a sponge; they naturally collect and hold water during a flood and then release water during a drought.
Wetlands are a habitat for many plants and animals.
Wetlands naturally filter out runoff and pollution brought down by rivers.
Wetlands are a Pollution Solution!!

14. Wetlands and Vegetative Buffers work in the same way

15. Wetlands Lab
New Lab Groups today! First assign jobs (Leader, Reader, Writer and Clean-Up)
Then the Leader should turn in cards and get one lab report for the group.
Lab Reminders:
Read the lab procedure very carefully!
Stay in your lab group!
No Horseplay!

16. Wetlands Lab
Your lab group will either be Developers (clearing out the vegetative buffer and building a shopping center over it) -OR- you will be Environmentalists that are keeping the river and wetlands natural.
Remember… Which way does water flow? Downhill! Pay attention to Steps #4 and tilt the pan correctly.
Once you have collected the water (Step #5), Leaders bring the beakers to the front of the room.

17. Pollution Solutions
How can we reduce or prevent dumping of hot water from factories and power plants?

18. Cool and Reuse!
If the factories and power plants were required by law to cool the water and reuse the water, then they would not dump the hot water in rivers.

19. Pollution Solutions
How can we reduce or prevent illegal dumping or disposing of toxic chemicals?

20. Education and Legislation!
Educate the public about what should NOT been thrown away in the trash.
Make proper disposal easier with more hazardous waste collection days.
Increase legislation and restrictions on companies to mandate proper disposal of toxic chemicals.
Fine companies that do not adhere to laws and policies.

21. It’s our responsibility!
Stewardship – responsibility for conserving and restoring the Earth’s resources for future generations.