Water quality
Water quality affects everyone, yet our water resources can be impaired by contamination and runoff due to industry, a heavy population density, and a myriad of land and water uses. At stake are safe drinking water, clean beaches, and uncontaminated aquatic ecosystems. With many threats to water quality, IISG tackles the issue from a variety of fronts, including education.
Through K-16 education opportunities—both in and out of the classroom, students can learn how problems with water quality affect the environment and people’s lives. IISG has identified data-rich, interactive classroom activities and background resources to enhance students’ understanding of essential water quality issues.
News
- Lawn to Lake program promotes natural lawn care
- Natural lawn care workshop highlights healthy alternative
- The HELM: SOLEC spotlights Great Lakes nearshore conditions
- The HELM: Lake Michigan Becomes the Classroom for COSEE Teacher Workshop
Education Initiatives
Purdue University Calumet Aquatic Ecology Course
At Purdue Calumet, students can learn the fundamentals of inland freshwater ecosystems, including: the formation of lakes; the chemistry of inland waters and processes involved in nutrient cycling; and aquatic community interactions.
Lake Michigan Exploration Workshop
This 2008 COSEE workshop brought biologists, geologists, and other scientists and experts together with teachers for an intensive week of knowledge sharing.
Products
Greatest of the Great Lakes--Classroom Activity Collection
How Big is a Crowd?
How Does Stratification Affect Water Quality?
Beach Mysteries
Where Do all the Toxins Go?
Which Fish Can We Eat?
Water Information and Concerns Fact Sheet Series
Swimming in Clean Water
Drinking Water Supplies
Dissolved Oxygen
Defining Water Quality
Water Clarity
Drinking Water: Disinfection with Chlorine
Water Taste and Odor Problems
Understanding Why Some Organic Contaminants Pose a Health Risk
Understanding Contaminated Sediments Bioavailability of Contamination
Planning with POWER
Protecting Our Water and Environmental Resources
Nonpoint Source Pollution: A Threat to our Waters
Strategies to Minimize Polluted Runoff
Relationship between Land Use Decision and Impacts on our Water and Natural Resources
Stormwater and Non-point Source Pollution
Stormwater Runoff
Web Links
COSEE Great Lake Curriculum
Project FLOW Activity: What Makes Water Healthy?
The BRIDGE, NOAA, and NMEA: Water Pollution Lesson Plans
Indiana Department of Environmental Management: Lesson Plan on Water (grades K-8)
Illinois Department of Natural Resources: Aquatic Illinois
indiana Department of Natural Resources Education Center: Water Quality Trunks
Indiana Department of Environmental Management, Environmental Education Resources
