Stream Consciousness
Students become stream consciousnessCopyright Wikimedia Commons http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Urban_stream_in_park.jpg
During this activity, students learn how environmental engineers monitor water quality in resource use and design. They employ environmental indicators to assess the water quality of a nearby stream. Students make general observations of water quality as well as count the number of macroinvertabrates. They then use the information they collected to create a scale to rate how good or bad the water quality of the stream. Finally, the class will compare their numbers and discuss and defend their results.
Environmental engineers monitor water quality in resource use and design. They use environmental indicators to assess the water quality of streams, rivers, ponds, lakes and oceans. Building dams or factories near water affects the water quality. Environmental engineers determine the magnitude of these impacts and steps to take to mitigate them.
After this activity, students should be able to:
- Identify and measure important water quality parameters that engineers use, such as temperature and pH.
- Identify aquatic insects that can be indicators of poor water quality.
- Create a rating tool to measure the water quality of the stream.
- Understand why engineers are concerned about water quality and its affects on water resources.