The Seattle School District began a program in 1990 to identify lead levels in the district's drinking water and to implement measures to lower any high lead levels. Recounts each of the seven steps of the program, discusses what the district found, and explains how it lowered lead levels in the drinking water. (MLF)

Explains that there are new compounds to identify and new health threats from known byproducts in the switch from chlorine to alternative disinfectants in drinking water utilities. (Author/MM)

Waterborne diseases like cholera, typhoid, and dysentery are not problematic in the United States. Most industrial and agricultural chemicals are neutralized by existing treatment technology, but cryptosporidium contamination can occur in dysfunctional treatment/filtration systems. Bottled water is no better than tap water. Awareness is better…

Presents a three-day mini unit on purification of drinking water that uses the learning cycle approach. Demonstrates the typical technology that water companies use to provide high-quality drinking water. (JRH)

This study suggests that staphylococci may be the preferred microbial indicators of swimming pool water quality because these organisms met all criteria for best microbial indicators in terms of amount of recovery, resistance to disinfectants, and risk to bathers using water samples from nine swimming pools in Linn and Benton Counties, Oregon. (30…

Provides information about home drinking water treatment systems to address concerns about the safety and quality of drinking water. Discusses water testing, filtration, product options and selection, water testing resources, water treatment device guidelines, water analysis terminology, and laboratory selection. (MCO)

Few investments have as little thought given to planning as the installation of a water-supply system for the home or farm. There are many considerations to be made if an adequate supply of water is to be available for the living and recreational needs of a family or the needs of livestock. This book is designed to instruct the reader on how to…

A brief overview of the basic concepts and philosophies for sampling water and waste water systems is presented in this module. The module is not intended to specify sampling procedures, frequencies, or locations for specific treatment facilities but rather to outline those general procedures which should be followed when sampling under most…

Describes the watershed management approach for preserving water resources. Considers pollution sources ranging from industrial discharge to agricultural leachate and runoff and evaluates its impact on the total watershed environment. (JRH)

This guide aids in finding water quality solutions to problems from sediment, animal wastes, nutrients, pesticides, and salts. The guide allows users to learn the fundamental concepts of water quality assessment by extracting basic tenets from geology, hydrology, biology, ecology, and wastewater treatment. An introduction and eight chapters are…

Biological waste treatment in the activated sludge process is based on the ability of microorganisms to use dissolved oxygen in breaking down soluble organic substances. The oxygen uptake test is a means of measuring the respiration rate of microorganisms in this process. Designed for individuals who have completed National Pollutant Discharge…

Literary works (novels, plays, poems) are suggested for the public's environmental orientation. Discusses rationale for using these works, focusing on Ibsen's "An Enemy of the People" (which parallels present problems in United States cities) as a valuable literary air to a better and easier understanding of environmental issues. (JN)

The goal of this mini-curriculum is for students to discover what drinking water really is. Five units are designed to be presented as a lecture and to allow 30 to 40 students to perform every procedure, each testing their own tap water sample. Games are provided in each section to reinforce the concepts presented in each unit. Unit 1 introduces…

This study sampled 268 people involved in natural resource research and management education from every state in the United States to determine what concepts, skills and affects should be included in the National Project WET (Water Education for Teachers) water and water resource curriculum framework. The analysis contains an 80-item curriculum…

Recent research shows lead poisoning is more widespread and even more dangerous to infants and young children than previously thought. A bill proposed in Congress would require schools and day-care centers to test for lead. Summarizes lead's health hazards and how to test drinking water. (MLF)