Pollution plays an important role in preservation of the viable habitats of the Sound. Due to the interconnectedness of the habitats, pollution can have a devastating effect on the entire ecosystem. A major source of pollution is sewage discharge. With initiatives such as the Clean Water Act, the states of Connecticut and New York have built sewage treatment plants to help restore degraded waters. Since the creation of the Clean Water Act, there have been many pollution control programs that have resulted in measurable improvement in the water quality. This improvement has allowed the Sound to remain a valuable estuary. Efforts of concerned citizens have forced these improvements, and have made the Sound a value today. However, the coupled storm and sanitary sewer systems for most New England cities undoes the effect of the sewage treatment during times of storm surges.
Despite the notable progress made, much work still remains to be done. The quality of the Sound is far from what it should be. The commercial, recreational, and residential development aforementioned have posed many threats. The density of the population living within the Sound’s watershed increases with the close proximity to the coastline. This is in direct correlation to the use of the Sound to dispose of human and other wastes. In fact, over one billion gallons of treated effluent is dumped by over 60 public wastewater plants each day. Other problems such as increased runoff and reduced filtration have impacted the Sound greatly. These problems have caused habitat alteration and destruction and have harmed the population of the Sound. The problems need to be addressed and maybe our students can be a part of the solutions.
See activity in the appendix.
The students need to become aware of the problems that face the resources around us. With an awareness they can become problem solvers. If the proper knowledge and values are instilled in our students, then we can prevent our valuable resource, the Sound, from having further harm done to it. If the proper steps are taken, then maybe we can give Mother Nature a chance to revitalize.
In order to broaden the students’ knowledge base, one of the following activities can be done:
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1. Have the children brainstorm a list of questions they may have about water pollution and filtration. Then have them write a letter to an area business that deals in this subject. I am sure that the businesses will respond with information and possibly a speaker. The writing of the letter grants the students the knowledge of how to access information from different sources. This is an essential skill in order to be a problem solver.
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Businesses addresses in the New Haven area:
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Aqua Clear Systems Inc.
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6 Industrial Cir.
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Hamden 06514
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Connecticut Water Treatment
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720 Woodward Rd.
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Stratford 06497
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GW Inc. Water Conditioning
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1486 Highland Ave.
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Cheshire 06410
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2. You may also call the
South Central Regional Water Authority
to ask for more information or possibly to set up a trip to a water treatment facility. The phone number is (203) 287-1352
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3. Another activity is to have the students make their own water filtration systems. This activity is explained in further detail later in the unit.
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4. Plan a trip to Whitney Water Works.
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5. Plan a trip to clean up a beach.