Water Waste and Energy

ASPDP Water, Energy and Waste:Integrating Themes of SustainabilitySessions 2 and 3, October 14 -15, 2011

EstuariesEstuaries: Where

the rivers meet the sea

Movie source: estuaries.gov

Hudson RiverHudson River Estuary Program

The students at Manhattan School for Children study their local waterway, the Hudson River. It is crucial to connect a community water locale with history, art, and science.

Water DataYou and your students can access information

about your local waterway using online data taken from satellites and buoys.

RiverkeeperBeczakNOAA NOAA buoy

Climate Simulator

Melting IceStudents can usually state that one effect of

climate change is a rise in sea level. However, they may not be aware of how the water level actually increases.

Experiment: How will melting glaciers and sea ice affect sea levels?

WatershedsWhat is a watershed?

An area of land over which water drains into a body of water such as an ocean.

Why is the NYC watershed unique? Our amazing system is the

largest unfiltered water supply in U.S.A., allowing 8 million NYC residents and 1 million residents of 4 northern counties to consume

1.2 billions gallons of water every day!

Water ConservationAround the globe Around the house

Ocean Literacy What is ocean literacy? The following lists the Ocean

Literacy Essential Principles : 1. The Earth has one big ocean

with many features. 2. The ocean and life in the ocean

shape the features of the Earth. 3. The ocean is a major influence

on weather and climate. 4. The ocean makes the Earth

habitable. 5. The ocean supports a great

diversity of life and ecosystems. 6. The ocean and humans are

inextricably interconnected. 7. The ocean is largely

unexplored.

Ocean DataSea Surface Temperature (SST) is monitored via satellite and buoys. SST is a major influence on climate and weather.

Salinity, oxygen, nitrate, tides, currents, and other factors can be easily monitored across the ocean.

NOAA makes this data easily accessible to all.

RainwaterRainwater catchment system

Storing and using rainwater before it reaches the ground is known as rainwater harvesting.

Plants benefit from the lack of chemicals present in the filtration process

In urban environments rainwater harvesting could prevent runoff over asphalt

Groundwater

The water that soaks into the ground rather than flowing back into a body of water is called groundwater.Groundwater comes from rain, snow, sleet, and hail that soaks into the ground. The water moves down into the ground because of gravity, passing between particles of soil, sand, gravel, or rock until it reaches a depth where the ground is filled, or saturated, with water.

Design a water filter

Everywhere on Earth, people need fresh water. Even in space, astronauts on the ISS need fresh water. They must recycle every drop of fluid by filtering it into water that is suitable to drink. Encourage your students to be space engineers and design a water filter with common everyday materials

Hydroponic SystemsWhy choose hydroponic over traditional

gardening?  It is an alternative to soil, especially in the city. 75% of Earth is covered in

water; we live on half the land and we only actually grow on 1/32 of surface of Earth. Most people are living in cities and food is being grown in rural communities. The way that we have been growing has not been efficient. Industrial agriculture is producing large quantities of altered food, and degrading the soil and wasting water.

3% of water is fresh - 1% of water on earth is usable for agriculture and daily use. 45% of fresh water is used for agriculture- inefficient because goes into groundwater, picks up chemicals and washes into lakes and rivers.

In cities it makes sense to grow food on vacant rooftops, and eliminate transportation costs. Link between food transport and pollution. Most food travels 1500 miles. Local growing can limit fuel emissions.

ConclusionsPlease take out your science notebook and jot down a few items that you found interesting,

either on a personal level, or in terms of bringing information back to your classroom.