Water Boss

Water Boss

How Does Our City Manage Its Water?
Lesson: 6.7
Level:
Beginner
Station: Water Management
Format: Field Trip
Rating:
Lesson 6.7 Water Boss

Lesson Overview

The water treatment system that operates behind the scene in every municipality across the country is far more complex than most would think. In this lesson, we take the show on the road to visit the local water treatment plant.

Goals

  • Describe how the water supply is managed in their city
  • Describe the processes and chemicals used to treat the water

Outcomes

Students will visit the local water treatment facility in order to get a first hand look at a commercial treatment operation.

Teaching Primer

water treatment plantWe take water for granted. Just turn on the tap and out it comes. But there is a process that the water goes through before it can be served up from the tap. Suspended solids are removed, bacteria neutralized, and chemicals added.

When you see the operation in person you get a much better understanding of just how far water travels and the process it goes through to reach your kitchen sink.

The folks that manage these facilities are well versed in the treatment protocols and systems used to ensure safe drinking water.Getting an opportunity to pick their brains is a real treat.

Teach the Teacher

Tools & Materials

  • Transportation

Vocabulary

  • Chlorine
  • Ionization
  • Settling
  • Filtration
  • Suspended solids

Method

Introduction (10 minutes)

Begin the lesson by explaining how the water treatment process is facilitated at the water treatment plant. Describe the types of impurities and contaminants that are removed or mitigated.

Activity (20 minutes)

Take the tour! Water treatment facilities are impressive large scale operations and there is no shortage of interesting topics to explore.

Discussion (10 minutes)

What was the most impressive part of the process? What chemicals do they use to treat the water? What types of solids are removed? How many gallons of water come into the plant each day? How many gallons of treated water are pumped out each day to residents?

Assessment (5 minutes)

Use the following questions to assess the Students before and after the lesson. Tally the responses of the group in the Assessment Tracking Log for comparison:

  • By a show of hands, how many of you know how water is treated before it is piped to your house?
  • Now that you’ve seen the treatment process, how many of you think you could explain to someone else how the water treatment facility works?

Related Lessons

Give the Intermediate or Advanced lessons a try now that you’ve completed the Beginner Lesson!

This lesson, and all other lessons on this website, are intended for use by teachers in the classroom. These lessons are protected by US and International copyright laws. Reproduction or distribution of lesson content, supporting materials, or digital creative is prohibited with written permission from Modern Steader LLC.