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Conserving Resources When Is Water Safe To Drink?

The document discusses various contaminants that can make water unsafe to drink and the importance of treating water from different sources. It identifies the most common water contaminants as acidity, bacteria, metals, nitrates, and pesticides. These contaminants can enter water sources through erosion, rusty pipes, animal waste, fertilizers, and surface runoff. The document then describes a virtual lab where the user can test water samples from different sources, identify contaminants, research treatments, and apply treatments to make the water safe for drinking.

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laura daniela gutierrez garcia
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27 views

Conserving Resources When Is Water Safe To Drink?

The document discusses various contaminants that can make water unsafe to drink and the importance of treating water from different sources. It identifies the most common water contaminants as acidity, bacteria, metals, nitrates, and pesticides. These contaminants can enter water sources through erosion, rusty pipes, animal waste, fertilizers, and surface runoff. The document then describes a virtual lab where the user can test water samples from different sources, identify contaminants, research treatments, and apply treatments to make the water safe for drinking.

Uploaded by

laura daniela gutierrez garcia
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conserving Resources

When is water safe to drink?

Suppose you were hiking along a stream or lake and became very thirsty. Do you think it would
be safe to drink the water? In many cases, it wouldn't. Each source of fresh water on or beneath
Earth's surface is affected by contaminants. Though the sources of these contaminants are
varied, all can make water unfit to drink if they are allowed to increase beyond safe limits. The
most common water contaminants are:

Acidity:
The pH scale is a measure of acidity in water and other substances. Water with a pH reading of
zero to six, or acidic water, is unsafe to drink and can corrode metal pipes. The most significant
environmental impact of a high or low pH level is that it can magnify the effect of other
contaminants.

Bacteria:
Coliform bacteria and other microorganisms are found in the fecal matter of warm blooded
animals and humans. This bacteria is most commonly found in lakes, rivers, and ponds, but can
seep into groundwater supplies. When coliform bacteria are present in your drinking water, your
risk of contracting a water-borne illness is increased.

Metals:
Copper and iron are two of the more common metal contaminants found in water supplies. An
overabundance of copper and iron can cause water to be discolored and foul-tasting. Liver
damage can also be traced to unsafe levels of metallic contaminants in water. Most copper and
iron contaminants enter the water supply through rusty and corroded pipes. However, metallic
contaminants can also enter groundwater through erosion as the water travels through layers of
rock and minerals.

Nitrates:
Nitrates are a form of nitrogen found in animal wastes, chemical fertilizers, and food
preservatives. Found in both surface water and groundwater, nitrates enter the water supply
through surface runoff from farms and from leaking household septic tanks. Nitrates pose little
threat to humans, but an overabundance of nitrates can kill fish and other aquatic creatures.

Pesticides:
Pesticides and herbicides are manufactured chemicals that are used to kill weeds, molds, and
insects. Carbofuran and alachlor are examples of common herbicides used in agriculture.
Surface runoff can introduce pesticides and herbicides into the water supply. In concentrated
amounts, these substances can cause a number of health problems, including anemia, and liver
and kidney disorders.

In this Virtual Lab, you will test a variety of water samples. Then you will determine how to treat
the water samples to make them safe to drink.

10/23/2020 Page 1
Conserving Resources
When is water safe to drink?

Objectives:
·Define types of water contaminants.

·Determine which type of contaminants are common to lake water, city water, well water, rural
water and mountain water.

·Identify treatments that remove contaminants from drinking water.

Procedure:
1. Click the right and left arrows to select a body of water to analyze.

2. Click Test to test the water sample.

3. Look at the results of the water analysis to identify which contaminants exceed the safe range.

4. Click the tabs to find information on how to treat each contaminant.

5. Enter the contaminant and treatment information in the Table.

6. Click Go To Treatment to go to the treatment screen.

7. Use the information in the Table and click the wheels on the valves to add chemicals or
additives to the water sample.

8. Click the Treatment Switch to start treating the water. The Safe/Unsafe Sign will indicate
whether the water is safe to drink.

9. If the water is safe to drink, use Return to Lab to go to the lab screen and test another water
sample.

10. If the water is unsafe to drink, check your information and treat the water sample again.

11. When you have tested and treated all the water samples, use your completed Table to
complete the Journal questions.

10/23/2020 Page 2

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