Lesson 07 – Drinking Water Treatment
This is Lesson 7, “Drinking Water Treatment,” part of the “Drinking Water: Protecting the Source” curriculum (USDA NRCS/National FFA). Students explore how a public water treatment and distribution system works, learn to interpret a local Consumer Confidence Report (CCR), examine the career of water treatment plant/system operators, and investigate options for treating private well water for common contaminants. The lesson includes an interest approach, activities, a CCR worksheet, a career handout, treatment-device reference tables, an assessment, and PowerPoint slides.
At a glance
- Learning objectives
-
- 7.1 Explain how to interpret a local Consumer Confidence Report (CCR).
- 7.2 Describe options for private well drinking water treatment for common, local contaminants.
- Time required
- Instruction time for this lesson: 65 minutes
- Grade level
- 9-12
- Materials
-
- SW.7.1.A.TM – Public Water Distribution System slide
- SW.7.1.B.TM – Requirements for CCR slide
- SW.7.1.B.AS – CCR Worksheet; one copy for each student or group as needed
- Consumer Confidence Reports, EPA (http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/ccr/index.cfm)
- Drinking Water Consumer Information, EPA (http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/index.cfm)
- Public Drinking Water Systems Programs, EPA (http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/drinkingwater/pws/index.cfm)
- SW.7.1.C.AS – Water Treatment Plant and System Operators handout; one for each student
- SW.7.2.TM – Steps for Identifying Potential DW Problems and for Selecting a DW System slide
- Drinking Water and Human Health (http://www.extension.org/pages/Home_Water_Treatment_Devices)
- Private Drinking Water Wells, EPA (http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/index.cfm)
- Computer
- LCD projector
- Screen
- Key Terms
- Cryptosporidium; Consumer Confidence Report; Contaminant levels; Microorganisms; Regulatory procedures; Water treatment plant
Downloads & Links
Aligned Standards
National Science Education Standards for Grades 9 – 12
- Content Standard AAbilities Necessary to Do Scientific Inquiry: Design and conduct scientific investigations.
- Content Standard AAbilities Necessary to Do Scientific Inquiry: Design and conduct scientific investigations.
- Content Standard FScience in Personal and Social Perspectives: Natural Resources – Human populations use resources in the environment in order to maintain and improve their existence. Natural resources have been and will continue to be used to maintain human populations.