Warm-up

Write a paragraph about how humans influence the water on Earth. Your paragraph should have at least five sentences.

Put your name on this. Dr. Cao will pick these up. You have 8 minutes.

Happy Monday Y’all!!!!!

Objectives

SWBAT evaluate human influences on water quality in North Carolina’s river basins, wetlands, and tidal environment

Watershed

A watershed is all the land and river systems from which water drains toward a common point

You live in a watershed!

Watershed in North Carolina

North Carolina Watershed is decreasing…

What it looks like now…

Point vs. Non-Point Point Source: A single identifiable

source of water pollution Non-Point Source: Water pollution

that comes from a variety of sources picked up by run-off moves

There are 5 different types of water pollution…

Water Pollutio

n

Chemicals

Radioactivity

Thermal Pollution

Sediments

Sewage

1. Chemicals

May be toxic Examples: Acids, fertilizers,

pesticides, gas, & oil Results from oil spills, roadway runoff Causes Health effects,

eutrophication

2. Radioactivity

Solid and liquid radioactive wastes from nuclear power plants and leaks into groundwater

3. Thermal Pollution

Human activity increases water temperature increases fish metabolism consume more oxygen BUT water holds less oxygen destructive to developing eggs and young fish

FAST FACT

Laughing lowers stress hormones (like cortisol, epinephrine, and adrenaline) and strengthens the immune system by releasing health-enhancing hormones.

4. Sediments

Soil run-off causes water to become cloudy, allowing less sunlight in for photosynthesis;

Waters become more shallow Clogs fish gills

5. Sewage

Human & animal waste causes a decrease in dissolved oxygen in the water

May contain pathogens that are then passed on to humans

Water Quality in NC!

The number one source of water pollution in NC is storm water run-off

Why is there high storm water run-off in NC? Construction Forestry operations Mining operations Crop production Land fills Failing septic systems Road and parking lots

What are some of the problems?

Storm water carries sediments, oils, toxic residues, pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste and other pollutants

Sediments (the main pollutant) fills rivers and kill fish… what does that mean for the environment and the population?

Animal waste contains fecal coliform bacteria and possibly other pathogens

Solutions?!

YOU! Require developments to be built

away from creeks and rivers Limit pavement in new development

What can you think of?!

Exit Ticket

1. Name and describe 2 different types of pollution

2. What is a watershed3. What is an example of nonpoint

source pollution?4. What is an example of point source

pollution?

We all live downstream!

You have each inherited $10 MILLION for a riverfront property!

On your sheet of paper, draw your river

Then, draw anything that you want to use your riverfront property for! What are you passionate about? If you

could build anything, what would it be?

Questions to bring to your property

1. Why did you draw what you drew?2. Is there anything on your property

that you think may pollute the water ways?

3. What is nonpoint source pollution?4. What is point source pollution?5. What are some ways that humans

pollute water?6. How does pollution occur naturally?

On the back of your picture…

Respond to these questions in full sentences:

1. How does what happened upstream affect what happens downstream?

2. Does a small amount of litter make a big difference over time?

3. What are some things you can do now that you have seen first hand what litter can do to water?

4. How does this litter affect the water cycle?