WS6_Water_Qual_CS

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Biology

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Apr 3, 2024

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WS6: Water Quality Case Study Questions Use the PPT and links posted on BB to follow along with the case study and answer all questions. (20 points total) [Part 1: The problem] 1. What are the various sources of water that contribute to the Congaree River? (1pt) - Two sources of water that contribute to the Congaree River include the Saluda River, Broad River, Lake Murray. 2. What could have caused the smell the students encountered? (2pt) (Use terms like point-source vs non-point source pollution in your discussion) - The smell that the students encountered could have been a factory spill or sewage treatment plant which is a point source solution since it is coming from an identifiable source. [Part 2: Is it sewage?] 3. Given your review of potential pollution sources previously, what are the likely contaminants, if the pollution is from one of the facilities near that location. (Do some googling!) (2 pts) - Likely contaminates that could have caused this pollution are the sewage factory treatment that disposes its waste into the river, such as human waste, toxic chemicals, ammonia, nitrates, and heavy metals. 4. What are the likely contaminants if it is surface runoff from nearby land ? (1 pt) - If it is surface runoff from nearby land, possible contaminates include pesticides, herbicides, oil from cars driving on road nearby, animal waste from farm lands. [Part 3: Coliform bacteria and E. coli , OH MY!] 5. What is coliform bacteria? What is E.coli ? Why do water samples test for coliform bacteria, and not E. coli ? (2pts) - Coliform bacteria is a normal bacteria that is found in the human gut and alone it will not hurt you. E.coli is a type of coliform bacteria that certain types have harmful properties. Water samples test for coliform bacteria and not just E.coli because it is better to be safe than sorry.

6. Brainstorm some ways we can help keep our rivers clean. (Consider individual, community and larger SC pop. actions) (2pts) - To keep our river clean, simply individual actions can be done such as volunteering for a river clean up, not littering and disposing trash properly, and if you live by a river, making sure no runoff is entering the water by building a shoreline. Also, using fertilizers and pesticides when gardening should be eliminated, as nitrogen and phosphorus are very toxic to water. A community can do a lot of these same things but in a bigger way, such as having 50 people clean the river instead of one or build multiple shores, so runoff does not enter the ocean. Also, research can be done by a community in order to determine what is causing pollution and finding a solution to minimize that factor. At a government level, laws can be passed to stop factories from polluting in waters, filters can be established in rivers, and money can go towards finding better solutions for this issue. [Part 4: Why are wetlands critical to healthy water?] 7. How can even small wetlands help clean and filter water before it makes its way to the river? Explain ecologically. (2pts) - Small wetlands help clean and filter water before the river by trapping pollutants such as heavy metals in the soil. The soil basically acts like a filter. The soil can also transform nitrogen into an easier form for plants to take in and chemically breakdown bacteria 8. Hypothesize how water quality test at entrance the to the arboretum may compare to water at the waterfall just before the water is redirected underground in culverts to Gills Creek (Just before leaving the Belser arboretum) (1pt) - A water quality test at the entrance of the arboretum will most likely be high in contaminants and possible dangerous. However, once the water has passed through the arboretum, the water quality test should be much better and more filtered. It may not be perfect, but it will be better than when it entered. [Part 5: Bringing it home] It is now time for you to consider pollution in a more personal manner. Think about your hometown, a family experience, or a personal interest. Now consider a source of pollution that is threatening that area. Make sure to use sources to cite your information as you go (minimum 1 source). 9. Consider the source of pollution you chose (7 pt total) :

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