Monday, October 30, 2017
02:30 - 04:15; 105 min. -
AP Environmental Science:
Water aquifer filter Lab part 2 -
Chase was tasked with explaining the water issues that are related to the Klamath River, as presented in the chapter on water. We reviewed the Klamath River together, using a National Geographic issue from December 2008, to describe how farmers, Native Americans, and fishermen have joined forces to let the river run wild. We discussed what a watershed is and examined the one associated with the Klamath River. Chase then returned her attention to the aquifer filter lab she started last week. She recorded her observations of the ‘polluted’ water, describing the sedimentation of the heavier pollutants. Together we reviewed the filter she built, and discussed how the coagulant she added worked to pull the heavier particulate together. She then carefully poured the top, clearer, layer of the water into her filter. We discussed the benefits and drawbacks of the permeability and porosity of the filter. I explained that if this were a water treatment system, disinfectants (such as bleach) would have been added before the water was processed into the filter. We compared and contrasted water treatment vs. natural water filter systems. Chase then conducted a water well activity, where she was tasked with illustrating the types of substrate found in a well in a pre-defined watershed. She then compared her illustration to ones for wells located in other areas of this watershed, as we discussed the ramifications of these differences. Homework: complete the questions at the end of module 18 and 19 in chapter 6 of the text.