IS THERE FIRE-WATER IN YOUR PIPES Benet Academy Mssrs: Geitner, Arthurs, Dennerlein esq

The Introduction:

Is there fire-water in your pipes? What is the quality of the water in DuPage County? Do the communities using Lake Michigan water have the same problems as those using well water or some combination of the two? Are the problems with the water different for different age groups? What components of the water are healthy and what components are toxic and what are the acceptable ranges?

The Task:

You have been chosen to be a member of a task force to consider the following questions. What chemicals are/are not in our water that should not/should be there? What microorganisms are/are not in our water that should not/should be there? What can be done to improve water quality? Identify whether or not there are problems with the water and if there are problems, what are the possible solutions? You will provide your analysis to the group which will then draft a letter to be sent to the state legislators from DuPage County requesting they consider taking some appropriate actions.

There are four roles, each of which needs to complete the task.

• Member of the EPA/Clean Water Act
• Consumer
• Environmentalist/Private Sector
• Industrialist

Students will be evaluated by rubrics involving both product and process

To view the RUBRIC

Product: As a result of this investigation, each group will submit a persuasive proposal to the state legislators of DuPage County, convincing them to sponsor appropriate legislation to improve water quality in the county. These proposals will be synthesized into a letter to be sent to these legislators.

To view SUPPLEMENTARY SOURCES

Process: Each member of each group will assume one of the following roles:

Member of the EPA/Clean Water Act

As a member of the EPA, you will find the national standards of water quality concerning chemicals and microorganisms. What is being measured and what amounts are considered as being safe? Are there any omissions?

Consumer

As a consumer concerned for his/her family, including children, you will want to know if the tap water is safe. Should you put in a reverse osmosis unit or use a filtering system (or use bottled water)? What chemicals/microorganisms are removed by each process?

Environmentalist/Private Sector(Concerned Citizen)

You will determine the political views of the state legislators of DuPage County; Investigate what concerned groups have done regarding general water quality in the county; find out which are the concerned groups in the county and what they may have done. What chemicals/microorganisms are tested for? What are the results? What action is taken when the standards are not met?

Industrialist

You will find out what are the requirements mandated for toxic waste disposal? What are the costs incurred by the companies to comply? Be especially concerned with the industries along the I-88 East-West Corridor.