Water Cycle: Moving without Wheels
Students explore the water cycle.Copyright Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/atmospheric-infrared-sounder/8265046380/in/photostream/
Through a teacher-led class demo, students observe a simple water cycle model to better understand its role in pollutant transport. Using kitchen or lab equipment, the demo simulates a point source of pollution in a lake and the resulting environmental consequences—one way in which pollution is affected by the water cycle. A student worksheet is provided.
Once a pollutant is introduced into the environment, it is possible, but generally very difficult, to clean up. In some situations, bioremediation, or cleaning up pollutants through the use of microbes (bacteria, plants), is the best approach. Civil and environmental engineers design the distribution systems and bioreactors to implement the bioremediation process using specific microbes identified by biochemists to remove or neutralize contaminants in soil or water. Similarly, civil engineers design water and waste treatment plants to assure clean water in every community.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Define and provide examples of evaporation, condensation and precipitation.
- Understand and explain how a simple water cycle model can be used to model pollution transport.
- Understand and explain how the water cycle is related to air pollution.
- Begin to understand some ways that engineers use and interact with the water cycle.