Water Pollution: Sources and Solutions
Identifying pollution sources and ways to protect clean water
Water Pollution: Sources and Solutions
Identifying pollution sources and ways to protect clean water
Environmental Science - Grade 4-5
- 1
A storm washes litter from a parking lot into a storm drain that leads to a nearby creek. Explain how the litter can become water pollution.
Think about where rainwater goes after it runs across streets and sidewalks.
The litter can become water pollution because rainwater carries it into the storm drain and then into the creek. The trash can harm animals, block sunlight, and make the water unsafe. - 2
Name two possible sources of water pollution from a farm.
Two possible sources of water pollution from a farm are fertilizer and animal waste. Rain can wash these materials into streams, ponds, or groundwater. - 3
A family pours old paint down a sink drain. Describe why this is harmful and what they should do instead.
Some materials need special disposal because they contain chemicals.
Pouring old paint down a sink drain is harmful because chemicals in the paint can pollute water and hurt living things. The family should take the paint to a household hazardous waste collection site or follow local disposal rules. - 4
Look at the scene of a river near a town. List three things in the scene that could pollute the river.
Three things that could pollute the river are trash on the ground, oil leaking from cars, and fertilizer washing from lawns. These pollutants can be carried into the river by rainwater. - 5
Choose the better action: washing a car in a driveway or washing a car at a car wash that treats its wastewater. Explain your choice.
Compare where the dirty water goes in each choice.
Washing a car at a car wash that treats its wastewater is the better action. Soap, dirt, and oil from a driveway can wash into storm drains, but a car wash can collect and treat the dirty water. - 6
A pond has too much algae after heavy rain washes lawn fertilizer into it. Explain how fertilizer can cause this problem.
Fertilizer contains nutrients that help plants grow. When too much fertilizer enters a pond, algae can grow quickly and cover the water, which can reduce oxygen for fish and other animals. - 7
Sort each item as a point source or nonpoint source of pollution: a pipe releasing dirty water from one factory, oil washing off many roads after rain, and fertilizer running off many lawns.
Point source means one clear place. Nonpoint source means many spread-out places.
A pipe releasing dirty water from one factory is a point source because it comes from one clear location. Oil washing off many roads and fertilizer running off many lawns are nonpoint sources because they come from many places. - 8
Explain why picking up pet waste helps protect water quality.
Picking up pet waste helps protect water quality because rain can wash the waste into storm drains, streams, or lakes. Pet waste can add harmful bacteria and extra nutrients to the water. - 9
A student sees someone throwing a plastic bag near a stream. Write one polite sentence the student could say to encourage a better choice.
Use a respectful tone and give a clear reason.
The student could say, "Please put that bag in a trash can so it does not wash into the stream and harm animals." This sentence is polite and explains why the action matters. - 10
Study a simple diagram of the water cycle with clouds, rain, land, rivers, and groundwater. Explain one way pollution on land can reach water.
Pollution on land can reach water when rain falls and washes pollutants into rivers, lakes, or storm drains. Some pollution can also soak into the ground and reach groundwater. - 11
A school wants to reduce water pollution. Choose two actions the school could take and explain how each one helps.
Think about actions that stop pollution before it reaches a drain, stream, or pond.
The school could place more trash and recycling bins outside so litter is less likely to wash into storm drains. The school could also plant a rain garden to soak up runoff and filter some pollutants before they reach nearby water. - 12
A construction site has bare soil near a stream. Explain why this can be a water pollution problem after a rainstorm.
Bare soil can be a water pollution problem because rain can wash loose dirt into the stream. Too much sediment can make the water cloudy, cover fish eggs, and harm habitats. - 13
Which is the best way to dispose of used motor oil: pour it in a ditch, put it in a storm drain, or take it to a recycling center that accepts oil? Explain your answer.
Used motor oil is a harmful chemical waste that should be collected safely.
The best way to dispose of used motor oil is to take it to a recycling center that accepts oil. Pouring it in a ditch or storm drain can pollute soil and water and harm living things. - 14
In a watershed, all water drains to the same river, lake, or ocean. Explain why people who live far from a river can still affect the river's water quality.
People who live far from a river can still affect its water quality because runoff from their streets, yards, and neighborhoods can flow through storm drains, ditches, or smaller streams into the river. - 15
Write a short plan with three steps your family could follow to help prevent water pollution at home.
Include actions that are safe, realistic, and easy to do at home.
A family plan could include picking up litter and pet waste, using less fertilizer on the lawn, and taking chemicals such as paint or oil to proper collection sites. These steps help keep pollutants out of storm drains, soil, and nearby water.