11.8
EXPLORE AN ISSUE CRITICALLY
SKILLS MENU
Defining the Issue
Researching
Identifying Alternatives
Analyzing the Issue
Defending a Decision
Communicating
Evaluating
LINKING TO LITERACY
Critical Literacy
Do you believe that each
citizen should be responsible
for dealing with wastewater?
Is each citizen in your area
dealing with wastewater in an
environmental way? Why do you
think this is? Discuss in a small
group or with a partner.
Wastewater Reduction
At the beginning of this unit, you tracked and recorded your water
consumption over a period of 24 hours. In a follow-up activity, you
created an action plan to reduce your water consumption. You may
have made the connection that, as you reduce the volume of clean
water that you use, you also reduce the volume of wastewater that
you produce.
All water leaving our homes should be treated before it is released
into the environment (Figure 1). Fast-growing communities
sometimes exceed the capacity of their water treatment facilities.
When too much wastewater arrives at a treatment facility, some
water bypasses the facility. This untreated water flows into the
natural environment. This has serious health and environmental
consequences.
Figure 1 Cities must make sure that the wastewater treatment facilities are adequate.
The Issue
Your community wastewater treatment facility is having difficulties
meeting the demands of the growing population. The local town
council has asked you to design an advertising campaign that will
encourage people living in the community to reduce the amount of
wastewater produced.
Your campaign should explain how the community currently
manages wastewater. It should also outline the main concerns
regarding wastewater and suggest ways to address these concerns
in an environmentally friendly way.
Goal
To design an advertising campaign that will encourage people to
reduce the amount of water going to the wastewater treatment facility.
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Gather Information
It is important to know how and where wastewater is generated in
your community. Where does all the wastewater come from? Where
does it go?
Find out what happens to rainwater that runs off your roof. Does
some of it flow into downspouts and then down your driveway and
into a sewer grate? Where does rainwater go after landing on parking
lots and streets? Does water from all these sources end up at the water
treatment facility, or does it go directly back into the environment
and find its way into freshwater sources? What are the concerns
surrounding wastewater, and how can they be dealt with?
Go to Nelson Science
Identify Solutions
SKILLS HANDBOOK
3.J.4., 3.J.5.
Consider the challenges faced by your local wastewater treatment
facility. Think about the volume of water that ends up at the facility
and all the sources of this water. How could the total volume of
wastewater be reduced? Can any of the water be diverted or reused
(Figure 2)? Try to develop solutions to your local problem. Your
solutions
• must be environmentally friendly
• should not be too expensive
• could involve the support of the local community
Make a Decision
Figure 2 Some cities are
encouraging homeowners to divert
rainwater from house roofs into rain
barrels. The water can then be used
for lawns and gardens.
SKILLS HANDBOOK
8.
Develop a plan to ease the pressure on your local wastewater
treatment facility. When developing your plan, consider what points
you will present to the public. How will your campaign encourage
people to reduce the amount of wastewater they produce?
Communicate
Present your campaign to the class (who will act as members of
the public). Explain how wastewater is currently managed in the
community and what the concerns are. Explain how your plan will
address these concerns. Be prepared to support your plan with evidence.
Your campaign may take the form of a television spot, a photo essay,
a cartoon strip, or a T-shirt graphic. Remember, the more creative
your advertising is, the more people will remember it!
Unit Task
How does wastewater reduction apply to the water issue you are
considering for the Unit Task?
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