Science

Water Monitoring Activity

Local 1 hour
Learning Targets:
  • I will use the scientific process to analyze the quality of water by completing a water monitoring experiment. 
  • I will analyze data collected to decipher the quality of our local water resources 

Materials:
Water monitoring kit- inquire with H2O for Life staff 

Procedure: 
  1. Review the vocabulary and instructions for water monitoring via the Water Kit Directions*
  2. Complete a class demonstration of each test
  3. Participate in the Water Quality testing using the guide Water Testing Activity*
  4. Upload data to the global data set http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/


Vocab/Key terms
pH is the measure of acidity. Many living things can only live at a certain pH, so knowing the pH of the water can help determine the health of the ecosystem. Aquatic organisms can die if the pH is too high or too low.

Turbidity is the measure of water clarity, influenced by the amount of sediment in the water. Factors that influence water turbidity include stormwater runoff, algae blooms, and disturbed sediment. Too much sediment can clog fish gills, block light that plants use for photosynthesis, and absorb heat.

Dissolved oxygen (DO) is the amount of oxygen in the water available for organisms to use. Factors that decrease dissolved oxygen include algal blooms and nutrient loading.

Essential Questions
Why do we monitor water quality?
  • All living things need water to survive. The health of water often tells us the health of the larger ecosystem.
What factors of water quality are commonly tested?
  • Common water quality factors are temperature, pH, turbidity, and dissolved oxygen.
What tools do scientists typically use to measure water quality?
  • Scientists use both chemical and physical methods to test water quality. Some techniques are as simple as using a Secchi disk to determine the water clarity, while others measure complex factors like dissolved oxygen.
How can we use our knowledge about water quality to help our own communities?
  • Reviewing the information you have gathered in your dataset, you can determine the health of your body of water. Which areas of water quality need improvement? How can you and your community make changes to improve the water quality?